Publications

Sources of maladaptive behavior in ‘normal’ organisms

A basic assumption of most researchers is that behavior is generally functional, and indeed, in most instances the function is obvious. But in a number of cases, some behaviors of neurophysiologically ‘normal' organisms appear to be maladaptive. Considerable research has...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Miller, R. R., Polack, C. W. 2018. Sources of maladaptive behavior in ‘normal' organisms. Behavioural Processes 154, 4-12.

Effects of sex and early rearing condition on adult behavior, health, and well-being in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Scientific evaluation of management strategies for captive species is part of the establishment of best practices for animal welfare. Here we report the effects of sex, rearing, and a sex-by-rearing interaction on adult, captive chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) behavior, health, well-being,...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Clay, A. W., Bard, K. A., Bloomsmith, M. A. 2018. Effects of sex and early rearing condition on adult behavior, health, and well-being in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Behavioural Processes 156, 58-76.

A computerized testing system for primates: Cognition, welfare, and the Rumbaughx

Innovations in apparatus technology come about for a variety of reasons such as the need to use the same methodology with various species, the opportunity to present dynamic and carefully controlled stimuli, the goal of using automation to make data...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Perdue, B. M., Beran, M. J., Washburn, D. A. 2018. A computerized testing system for primates: Cognition, welfare, and the Rumbaughx. Behavioural Processes 156, 37-50.

Ultrasound to UltraSee: The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice

In March 2017 MRC Ares bought an ultrasound machine to assist in determining pregnancy in timed mating mice. Prior to this, visual checks or palpation would be used to confirm pregnancy. There were limitations with these methods as mice generally...

Year Published: 2019Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kemp, K. 2018. Ultrasound to UltraSee: The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(3), 193-195 (IAT Congress 2018 Poster Presentation).

Three little pigs! straw, sticks and bricks: ‘I’ll blow your house down’

In order for a scientific project involving animals to run smoothly, it is essential that the Animal Technologists have a good understanding of both the animals they are dealing with and of the project itself. Therefore our input to the...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Duckett, L., Phelon, L., Wheeler, L. 2018.Three little pigs! straw, sticks and bricks: ‘I'll blow your house down'. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(3), 201-203 (IAT Congress 2018 Poster Presentation).

I3S software as a refinement technique to identify individuals within a captive Scyliorhinus canula population

Demarking individual animals within a group is often required in research. However, the process of invasive tagging induces stress and if a tag becomes detached it may wound the animal and/or prevent identification. Photo identification using natural marks can be...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Identification MethodAnimal Type: Amphibian, Fish, Frog & Toad, Other Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: McMurray, C., Allen, N., Hook, S. et al. 2018. I3S software as a refinement technique to identify individuals within a captive Scyliorhinus canula population. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(3), 204-205 (IAT Congress 2018 Poster Presentation).

Give us a break!

Literature is replete with studies on stressors to laboratory rodents; knowing the impact research and husbandry interventions, such as routine cage changing, have on rodents' stress levels, physiology and behaviour, we hypothesised that animals recovering in a familiar environment would...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Filby, E. 2019. Give us a break! Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 45-48.

Using novel equipment to aid reduction and replacement of the ferret model in influenza transmission

The ferret model has long been the “gold standard” animal model for studying human influenza infection and is used all around the world for transmission studies. Professor Wendy Barclay and her team have used ferrets at Imperial College for 10...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Boreham, T. 2019. Using novel equipment to aid reduction and replacement of the ferret model in influenza transmission. Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 59-61.

Optimising health & welfare tracking using the Sanger Mouse Database

Health tracking of animals is required legally under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to prevent pain, avoidable suffering, distress or lasting harm. This is important with Genetically Modified (GM) animals as they are more likely to have unexpected...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Dench, J., McLaren-Jones, R., Vancollie, V. et al. 2019. Optimising health & welfare tracking using the Sanger Mouse Database. Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 62-64.

Refining mouse re-derivation by using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with fresh or frozen sperm as opposed to embryos

To attempt to reduce, refine and replace, we have employed a several new approaches to rederive mouse strains. By using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with fresh or frozen sperm we can reduce the timeframe and number of animals required to...

Year Published: 2019Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Travers, A., Thomson, J., Sharp, M. 2019. Refining mouse re-derivation by using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with fresh or frozen sperm as opposed to embryos. Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 73-74.