STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES for ACCEPTANCE AND QUARANTINE OF NONHUMAN PRIMATES

COMPARATIVE MEDICINE LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES

  1. Purpose:
    This procedure outlines the quarantine and tests required for the acceptance of non human primates into the CM-LAF.
  2. Scope:
    This procedure applies to all CM-LAF personnel, vendors and principal investigators working with non human primates.
  3. Procedure:
    1. All Non-Human Primates (NHP) are received from domestic sources (USA) or from captive-bred colonies in foreign countries.
    2. All NHP are quarantined by the vendor for a minimum of 60 days.
    3. The vendor must provide the following documents to the CM-LAF veterinarian prior to shipment:
      1. Verification of a minimum 60 day quarantine.
      2. Proof of negative filovirus antibody test using a blood sample taken within 14 days of shipment, at place of quarantine.
      3. Health certificate signed by the vendor's veterinarian.
      4. Identification of each NHP.
      5. Results of negative Tuberculosis tests within 12 months.
    4. The CM-LAF veterinarian will approve the shipment of NHP based on the above documents.
    5. The documents in 3.3 are to be sent to the New York State Department of Agriculture by the vendor and their respective state department of agriculture. These are mailed to the attention of:
      Dr. John Huntley
      NY State Department of Agriculture
      Division of Animal Industry
      1 Winners Circle
      Albany, NY 12235
    6. Health certificates, including TB testing, vaccines, deworming, and blood tests results must accompany the NHP to the CM-LAF.
    7. Upon arrival, NHP will be placed in quarantine and housed in a separate NHP room.
      1. This room will be identified as a quarantine room with a sign
      2. This room will be entered last in the day by animal care and veterinary staff.
      3. Under no circumstances can personnel enter a resident NHP room after the quarantine room.
      4. Entry to this room will be restricted to a minimum number of people
      5. Equipment, toys, feeders etc will not be transferred from this room to other rooms.
      6. Cages, equipment, toys, etc will be decontaminated with 10% bleach then go directly to the cage washer
    8. All NHP will remain in quarantine for at least 60 days. Animals destined for survival studies and who will be integrated in with resident NHP will remain in quarantine for 90 days.
    9. All personnel transporting the NHP to quarantine or entering the room must wear protective clothing as per SOP "Procedures for Protective Apparel for NHP". (3.A.2)
    10. All animals are examined visually by the veterinary staff within 48 hours of arrival.
    11. NHP will be acclimatized for at least 7 days prior to a complete physical examination.
    12. A CM-LAF veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of each NHP.
      1. NHP will be anesthetized with an appropriate injectable anesthetic.
      2. Once heavily sedated, the NHP will be weighed and placed on a clean towel on an examination table.
      3. Ear tags, tattoo numbers etc are verified with corresponding records.
      4. Towels and gloves are changed between each animal to prevent cross contamination of potential disease
      5. In addition to a general physical exam, the following tests are performed:
        1. Body weight
        2. TB test (palpebral and skin)
        3. Blood drawn for CBC and biochemistry profile
        4. Rectal swab for bacterial culture (Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter)
        5. Fecal sample for parasitology
        6. Rectal temperature
        7. Oral exam for Herpes B lesions
        8. Trim fingernails
      6. The TB test is repeated at 2 week intervals for a total of 3 negative tests, using alternating sides.
    13. All animals are checked and monitored by the veterinary staff for signs of disease. Abnormalities in behavior, food or water consumption, or appearance must be reported to the veterinary staff immediately.
    14. Any animal suspected of having Yellow Fever, Monkey Pox, or Hemorrhagic Fever will be reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) within 24 hours, by the CM-LAF veterinarian.
    15. All NHP will have blood drawn for filovirus antibody tests 14 days prior to release from quarantine. The CM-LAF veterinarian will approve release of NHP from quarantine only when all tests are performed, filovirus is negative, and the animals are in good general health.