Publications

The lasting impact of social isolation: Behavioral insights from former pet and entertainer chimpanzees in a sanctuary in Spain

Human fascination with chimpanzees has driven extensive research on the species, but also led to exploitation by private owners and entertainment industries. These animals often suffer species-specific inadequate conditions, which can result in the development and display of abnormal behaviors...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Chen, E., Pipolo, G., Crailsheim, D. et al. 2025. The lasting impact of social isolation: Behavioral insights from former pet and entertainer chimpanzees in a sanctuary in Spain. American Journal of Primatology 87(1), e23715.

Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) poses a substantial obstacle to the successful delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS). The transnasal route has been extensively explored, but success rates have been modest due to challenges related to the precise...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Chua, A. J., Di Francesco, V., D'Souza, A. et al. 2024. Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics. Lab Animal 53(12), 363–375.

Evidence of stable preferential affiliative relationships in the domestic pig

Affiliative relationships are well documented in a wide range of wild animals. However, there is limited evidence of their existence in social farm animals, despite potential significant animal welfare implications. We aimed to determine whether pigs have preferential partners for...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Clouard, C., Foreau, A., Goumon, S. et al. 2024. Evidence of stable preferential affiliative relationships in the domestic pig. Animal Behaviour 213, 95–105.

Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) differ in their responses to environmental enrichment: Why? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106432

The maned wolf, a species vulnerable to extinction, is widely found in zoos. Environmental enrichment techniques have been recommended to increase environmental unpredictability, therefore stimulating behavioral diversity, and promoting welfare for zoo animals. However, diverse responses to unpredictability have been...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: de Jesus Matos de Brito, L., Schetini de Azevedo, C., Mascarenhas Ladeia Dutra, L. et al. 2024. Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) differ in their responses to environmental enrichment: Why? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106432.

Are you serious? Relaxed open mouth may unveil the competitive/cooperative nature of play fighting in two feline species

Play fighting is a multifunctional behaviour allowing the development of both cooperative and competitive skills. During play fighting, animals perform ‘competitive' actions that are typical of the agonistic context and/or ‘cooperative' actions to avoid escalation into aggression. Several structural features...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Cat, Other Animal

Citation: Demuru, E., Collarini, E., Menon, A. et al. 2025. Are you serious? Relaxed open mouth may unveil the competitive/cooperative nature of play fighting in two feline species. Animal Behaviour 220, 123042.

Salivary cortisol captures endocrine response to an acute stressor in captive female tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella)

Measuring glucocorticoids such as cortisol is a useful tool for exploring relationships among behavior, physiology, and well-being in primates. As cortisol circulates in blood, it moves into biological matrices such as hair, urine, feces, and saliva. Saliva sampling is a...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: DeSana, A. N., Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks, Z., Amano, A. et al. 2024. Salivary cortisol captures endocrine response to an acute stressor in captive female tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella). American Journal of Primatology 86(10), e23677.

No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams’ social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles

While the behavioral and physiological impacts of nursery rearing in laboratory-housed infant monkeys have been well characterized, to date no studies have examined the impact on nonhuman primate dams of their infants being removed for rearing in the nursery. Despite...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Dettmer, A. M., Slonecker, E. M., Clouse, S. et al. 2024. No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams' social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106428.

The use of guanfacine to mediate anxiety-related reactivity and reduce associated agonistic behavior in two pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina)

Guanfacine, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been used to successfully treat self-injurious behavior in nonhuman primates, including macaques (Macaca mulatta) and baboons (Papio anubis). It does so by facilitating a correction to the dopaminergic system that mediates a reduction in impulsivity...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hopper, L. M., Allen, J. V., Huynh, V. et al. 2024. The use of guanfacine to mediate anxiety-related reactivity and reduce associated agonistic behavior in two pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Comparative Medicine 74(3), 186–194.

Assessing susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three rat strains using the loss of righting reflex

Overdose of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is a common euthanasia method for rodents; however, CO2 exposure activates nociceptors in rats at concentrations equal to or greater than 37% and is reported to be painful in humans at concentrations equal to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Merenick, D. R., Munro, B. A., Gee, J. M. et al. 2024. Assessing susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three rat strains using the loss of righting reflex. JAALAS 63(3), 310–315.

Evaluation of efficacy of 2 extended-release bupivacaine products in a porcine model of incisional pain

Extended-release (ER) local anesthetics are often incorporated in multi-modal analgesia or as an alternative when the effect of systemic analgesics may confound research. In this study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of 2 ER bupivacaine anesthetics with different ER mechanisms,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Yang, P., Yang, S., Durham, L. B. et al. 2024. Evaluation of efficacy of 2 extended-release bupivacaine products in a porcine model of incisional pain. JAALAS 63(4), 422–427.