Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

Maladaptive behaviors: Stereotypical behavior; hair pulling-and-eating and alopecia (hair loss); self-injurious biting

Animals kept in legally minimum-sized, unstructured enclosures very often exhibit stereotypical behaviors. Traditionally, these repetitive movement patterns without obvious goals or functions are categorized as abnormal. A healthy animal kept in a small, barren enclosure has little choice of expressing...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: All/General, Cat, Dog, Guinea Pig, Nonhuman Primate, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Maladaptive behaviors: Stereotypical behavior; hair pulling-and-eating and alopecia (hair loss); self-injurious biting. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 39-45. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Refuge cover decreases the incidence of bite wounds in laboratory south african clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends environmental enrichment for all laboratory animals, including amphibians. In this study, we evaluated the effect of adding environmental enrichment in the form of acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene (ABS) pipes as covered...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Torreilles, S. L., Green, S. L. 2007. Refuge cover decreases the incidence of bite wounds in laboratory south african clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science] 46(5), 33-36.

Self-injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: early history and present factors and the role of the serotonin system

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a problem of virtually all nonhuman primate research facilities. Its incidence varies between institutions and with the strictness of the criteria that are used. Nevertheless, it is widely agreed that several variables are important for determining...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Higley, J. D., Davis, E., Woodward, R. A. et al. 2007. Self-injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: early history and present factors and the role of the serotonin system. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 39. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #21)

Alterations in the serotonin system of monkeys exhibiting self-injurious behaviors

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) presents a serious problem in laboratory macaques that cannot be socially housed for scientific reasons. Pharmaceutical treatments that alter the serotonin (5HT) system have sometimes proven effective in alleviating SIB in both human patients and macaques. We...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Henderson, J., Coleman, K., Bethea, C. L. 2007. Alterations in the serotonin system of monkeys exhibiting self-injurious behaviors. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 40. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #22)

Abnormal behavior as a factor of compliance with positive reinforcement training for singly-housed adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Positive reinforcement training is an important element of behavioral management programs for nonhuman primates. However, more empirical information is needed to determine whether animals identified for intervention will engage in such training, affecting the amount of personnel time and other...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Griffis, C., Bloomsmith, M. A., Baker, K. C. et al. 2007. Abnormal behavior as a factor of compliance with positive reinforcement training for singly-housed adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 93. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #128)

Fluoxetine dose finding study for treatment of self-injurious behavior in Macaca mulatta

Based on clinical efficacy in the short-term treatment of self-injurious behavior in macaques, we performed a dose-finding study to establish optimal doses of fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). The subjects were 11 male (aged 7 – 15 years) rhesus macaques...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Fontenot, M. B., Anderson, G. M. 2007. Fluoxetine dose finding study for treatment of self-injurious behavior in Macaca mulatta. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 48. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #38)

Alopecia and overgrooming in laboratory monkeys vary by species but not sex, suggesting a different etiology than self-biting

Alopecia in laboratory monkeys can result from overgrooming (OG), medical conditions, or hormonal variation. Because hair loss is visible, disproportionate intervention may be expected relative to other indicators of potentially compromised well-being. Two analyses (α=0.05) suggest that alopecia and overgrooming...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Crockett, C. M., Bentson, K. L., Bellanca, R. U. 2007. Alopecia and overgrooming in laboratory monkeys vary by species but not sex, suggesting a different etiology than self-biting. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 87. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #117)

Why and how should we use environmental enrichment to tackle stereotypic behaviour?

This paper summarises recent findings on the causation of stereotypic behaviours and other abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs) in captive animals: primarily motivational frustration and/or brain dysfunction, with possible contributory roles also being played by habit-formation and ‘coping' effects. We then...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Mason, G. J., Clubb, R., Latham, N. et al. 2007. Why and how should we use environmental enrichment to tackle stereotypic behaviour? Applied Animal Welfare Science 102(3-4), 163-188.

A note on enrichment for captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)

Two enrichment techniques were devised with the aim of reducing stress and improving welfare for captive lion-tailed macaques in an Indian zoo. In Study A, a log, cotton ropes and a feeding basket were added to the enclosures in different...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Mallapur, A., Waran, N., Sinha, A. 2007. A note on enrichment for captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 108(1-2), 191-195.

The expression of self-injurious behavior in Macaca mulatta: prevalence, risk factors, and context

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) such as self-biting and self-wounding has been observed in a small, but persistent, percentage of captive nonhuman primates. Although biting often looks severe, not all self-biters wound themselves. Risk factors for SIB in rhesus macaques were investigated...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Lutz, C. K., Davis, E. J., Suomi, S. J. et al. 2007. The expression of self-injurious behavior in Macaca mulatta: prevalence, risk factors, and context. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 38. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #18)