Abstract
Background: Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, are a valuable resource in biomedical research, and demographic analysis plays a significant role in colony management. Methods: Data collection included SPF levels, gender, birth year, season of birth, birth location, rearing condition, maternal pregnancy history, and maternal age. Infant mortality in SPF rhesus macaques was compared with that in non-SPF rhesus macaques at the California National Primate Research Center over a six-year period, using Cox proportional regression analysis. Results: In infants born to multiparous dams, the SPF infants had a significantly lower rate of mortality than non-SPF infants. There was no statistically significant difference in infant mortality between different SPF levels. Conclusions: Elimination of selected endemic viruses from breeding populations of rhesus macaques for the purpose of SPF colony development is associated with a significant reduction in the infant mortality rate.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 186-191 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Medical Primatology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2013 |
Keywords
- Cox proportional regression
- Epidemiology
- Hazard ratio
- Nonhuman primate
- Rhesus monkey
- Survival analysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)