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Stop Animal
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Articles and
Reports Animal care within the National Institute on Neurological Disorder and Stroke The National Institute on Neurological Disorder and Stroke (NINDS)
funded 4314 research projects in the U.S. during 2005 which are
catalogued in the NIH CRISP system. 2973 (68.9%) of these projects
involve animal use. 120 (2.8%) utilize primates, with the majority of
these experiments being performed on either macaque monkeys or squirrel
monkeys. 2556 (59%) of these studies experiment on either rats or mice.
Other small animals (hamsters, guinea pigs, or rabbits) were used in 82
(1.9%) studies. Other species of animals (dogs, cats, farmed animals,
frogs, etc.) are used rather sparingly comprising only 215 (5%) of the
studies involving animals. Cell culture studies make up 22.7% (980) of
NINDS funded research. 193 (4.5%) projects are clinical trials with
humans. When we use the most recent estimated average grant posted by the NIH
of $413,000 the estimated expenditure for this area becomes
$1,781,682,000. Of this amount we estimate that $1,227,849,000 is used
for animal studies both intramurally and extramurally. What do we get for this money? The usefulness of the research can
clearly be based on the condition of the animals used in the research,
their stress levels, and their treatment. NINDS animal treatment has
been evaluated by examining post-mortem records from both the NINDS
facility in Maryland as well as the NINDS primate breeding colony which
is part of the New Iberia Research Center (NIRC) in Louisiana. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and stroke maintains
a breeding colony at NIRC. This breeding colony of rhesus monkeys is
comprised of 131 animals. However, this breeding colony was recently
enlarged to include 65 chimps, 7 squirrel monkeys, and one gibbon.
According to NINDS documents these animals were “just being housed.” And
apparently since there was nothing better to do with them, they were
added to a monkey colony that had been created due to a purported
shortage of rhesus monkeys. If these 73 animals are not being used in
any real way then they should be placed in a sanctuary where they can
live out their lives in peace, not housed at taxpayer expense. Post-mortem records for 15 of the rhesus monkeys who were part of
this 131 member colony until their death provide useful information.
Necropsy findings of the 15 NIRC Primates included: · 1/3 of these animals were so emaciated at their death that they had
little or no body fat. · Over 1/3 of these animals had severe gastro-intestinal tract
diseases. · Several had suffered from trauma. · One rhesus monkey was killed by sedation. · Another perished as a result of aspiration pneumonia. · Another primate died of heat stroke. Many of these deaths smack of negligence on the part of NIRC staff.
It is clear that pathological conditions in these primates are allowed
to continue, causing substantial suffering to the primates, until they
have reached an unacceptable endpoint. It is also very disturbing that
the majority of the rhesus monkeys who were necropsied were 3 years of
age or less. None of these animals are over 7 years of age. This is
extremely disturbing since captive rhesus monkeys can live to be as much
as 35 years old. Additionally, the record keeping associated with these animals
appears to be haphazard and in some cases the symptoms do not appear to
match the cause of death, or no real cause of death is delineated. Animal care within the facilities of the NINDS itself appears to be
no better. Several primates are listed as dying during or immediately
following surgical procedures. This indicates that either these animals
were sufficiently debilitated that surgery should have never been
performed, or simple negligence during the surgical process took their
lives. Primate mk0303432 apparently had no physiological problems and
“The anesthetic procedure was likely associated to the death of this
animal; also there was no pathological evidence of underlying disease
that may have contributed to the death of this animal.” Apparently the
only cause of death was negligence. Primate mk0400830, who “did not wake
up after yesterdays surgery” also had “. . . no evidence of any
underlying problems based on histopathology.” Primate mk0403961 died the
day after a cerebral arteriogram. However, the potential negligence
associated with her death is not the most outstanding part of her life.
Both of her ears are missing, only stumps are left. Much of her body is
devoid of hair. Several of the other primates are also listed as having
substantial “alopecia” or hair loss. The abuse which cost mk040391 her
ears, whether caused by herself or another is a clear sign of extreme
stress. Over grooming, which leads to hair loss, also indicates severe
stress. Primate mk0402956, another cynomolgus monkey (crab eating
macaque of Southeast Asia), is listed with “. . . multi-focal punctate
healing lesions on the legs, arms, torso, and chin.” He also has: “. . .
healing excoriations over both knees.” Again, it is impossible to tell
the exact cause of these injuries. But self-destructive behavior induced
by the overwhelming boredom of a sterile environment is a very real
possibility. Primates at NINDS also suffer from serious diseases. Primate
mk0405928 had chronic diarrhea and hepatic amyloidosis. He is listed as
being emaciated. This advanced state of debilitation is indicative of
inadequate veterinary care. The post-mortem record does not list any
treatments or medications that were used. The full record lists
aspiration pneumonia and peritonitis as additional pathological
conditions. Primate mk0409840 died of gastric bloat, a condition that
can be related to improper feeding or feedstuffs. Primate mk0407096 died
of severe trauma including multiple puncture wounds. Again, no
discussion of therapy is made. This primate, like several others are
simply listed as “found dead” meaning that the staff of NINDS was
unaware of any problem until this and other animals died. This clearly
indicates inadequate observation of the primates. Overall, the situation within NINDS facilities is atrocious.
Negligent practices within medical procedures take animals lives on a
regular basis. Primates are apparently attacked and brutalized by
cagemates without the NINDS staff even being aware of the situation. The
stark environment of the lab causes mental pathologies which lead to
stereotypical behavior including over grooming and self and other
directed aggression. One primate had no ears as a result of such
aggression. The aberrant psychological condition of these primates is sufficient
to substantially alter their physiology due to stress. When combined
with the negligent practices which kill primates during medical
procedures, inadequate behavioral observation, and inadequate veterinary
care the overall situation within NINDS facilities, and the conditions
inside the NINDS colony at the NIRC lab (primate supplier to the NINDS
facilities), the science of all relevant research must come into
question. When experimental procedures are performed incompetently on
overly stressed animals the result is to be expected, death and
meaningless pseudo-science. If all NINDS funded projects are performed this shoddily then not
only are thousands of animals dying with no positive result other than
keeping researchers paid, but over $1.2 million in federal tax dollars
is being wasted.
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