Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

Litter size predicts adult stereotypic behavior in female laboratory mice

Stereotypic behaviors are repetitive invariant behaviors that are common in many captive species and potentially indicate compromised welfare and suitability as research subjects. Adult laboratory mice commonly perform stereotypic bar-gnawing, route-tracing, and back-flipping, although great individual variation in frequency occurs....

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Bechard, A., Nicholson, A., Mason, G. 2012. Litter size predicts adult stereotypic behavior in female laboratory mice. JAALAS 51(3), 407-411.

Platelet activation in the context of stress in self-injurious rhesus macaques

Stress has been associated with adverse hematologic and physiologic consequences, including immunosuppression and an increased risk of cardiac disease. Aberrant platelet activation has been documented in humans exposed to mental stress, and activated platelets, as participants in both immunity and...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Metcalf Pate, K. A., Freeman, Z. T., Shirk, E. et al. 2012. Platelet activation in the context of stress in self-injurious rhesus macaques. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 640 (Abstract #PS49).

Abnormal behavior in captive baboons (Papio hahadryas sp.)

Abnormal behavior in macaque monkeys has been associated with risk factors such as nursery rearing and single housing. However, less is known about the extent of, and risk factors for, abnormal behavior in baboons. The purpose of this study was...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Lutz, C. K., Linsenbardt, K. A., Williams, P. C. et al. 2012. Abnormal behavior in captive baboons (Papio hahadryas sp.) American Journal of Primatology 74(S1), 36. (35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #37)

Objective assessment of self-injurious behavior in rhesus macaques and successful treatment with guanfacine

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) occurs sporadically in 5% to 15% of captive nonhuman primates, with over-representation among males and those animals housed in single caging prior to adulthood. Though SIB may manifest as a range of specific behaviors, the most clinically...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hutchinson, E. K., Freeman, Z., Rice, K. A. et al. 2012. Objective assessment of self-injurious behavior in rhesus macaques and successful treatment with guanfacine. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 647-648 (Abstract #PS78).

Efficacy of 3 types of foraging enrichment for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The 3 enrichment devices had different effects on individual expression of stereotypy: supertubes decreased it, shakers increased it, and puzzle balls led to a decrease followed by an increase. We present potential reasons for the changes in stereotypy and postulate...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Ghirardo, S., Minier, D. E. et al. 2012. Efficacy of 3 types of foraging enrichment for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 50(6), 888-894.

The enriching effect of non-commercial items in stabled horses

The effect of the provision of simple objects to stabled horses on their behaviour was investigated to determine whether these objects can affect horses' behaviour in a positive way and thus enrich their environment. A positive influence can for example...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Bulens, A., Beirendonck, S., Van Thielen, J. et al. 2013. The enriching effect of non-commercial items in stabled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 143(1), 46-51.

Can seeds help mice with the daily grind?

Some laboratory mice gnaw food pellets without ingesting much of the gnawed material, resulting in the production of waste material. The fact that this food grinding behavior is not seen in all individuals of a particular strain suggests that it...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pritchett-Corning, K. R., Keefe, R., Garner, J. P. et al. 2013. Can seeds help mice with the daily grind? Laboratory Animals 47(4), 312-315.

Increased produce enrichment reduces alopecia in captive outdoor socially-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Alopecia is relatively rare in wild primates but more frequent in captive settings. We investigate whether increasing the quantity and variety of produce enrichment reduces alopecia. Alopecia was scored bimonthly from September 2011 through mid-November 2012 for eight social groups...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hannibal, D., Cassidy, L., Day, A. et al. 2013. Increased produce enrichment reduces alopecia in captive outdoor socially-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 92. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #195)

Risk factors for stereotypic behavior and self-biting in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Animal’s history, current environment, and personality

Captive rhesus macaques sometimes exhibit undesirable abnormal behaviors, such as motor stereotypic behavior (MSB) and self-abuse. Many risk factors for these behaviors have been identified but the list is far from comprehensive, and large individual differences in rate of behavior...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Capitanio, J. P., McCowan, B. 2013. Risk factors for stereotypic behavior and self-biting in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Animal's history, current environment, and personality. American Journal of Primatology 75(10), 995-1008.

The relationship between environmental enrichment, temperament, and stereotypy in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Stereotypic behaviors are common in captive primate colonies, and it would be beneficial to know effective methods of remediation, and which animals are most likely to express the behavior. The first goal of this research was to determine the relationship...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Maier, A., Coleman, K. 2013. The relationship between environmental enrichment, temperament, and stereotypy in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 91. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #193)