抄録
There is much anecdotal evidence on the benefits of group housing of non-human primates. Outwardly animals housed in groups make less noise, show less aggression to staff, are easier to handle, habituate to study procedures and show more natural behaviours than animals housed in single cages. However there is little scientific data to support the statement that group housed non-human primates are less stressed than those housed in single caging due to difficulties in measuring physiological parameters that would provide an accurate reflection of the animals state of well being. The performance of many sampling procedures will potentially elevate these parameters so the means of measurement adopted should be non-invasive and non-disruptive to the animals.An investigation was conducted in to the suitability of measuring faecal corticosteriod levels as an indicator of the physiological well being of group housed animals. This method is non-invasive and consequently the results would not be compromised by handling or sampling activities associated with other methods. Faecal samples were collected from 3 male and 3 female pens consecutively for 11 weeks and subject to extraction procedures prior to LC-MS analysis for the determination of androstan and cortisol levels. The methods of extraction and analysis were shown to be capable of detecting and measuring the target hormones. The results indicate that the animals did habituate to the procedures performed during the study. From the data gathered to date further investigation on the usefulness of this measurement is warranted.
