The aim of this center is to succe …
The aim of this center is to successfully develop Specific-Pathogen-Free Baboon for research purposes.
The baboon has long been used in biomedical research and for certain applications has considerable advantages over other primate species. Despite their widespread use in research, there is currently an acute shortage of baboons available for use. As is well appreciated for macaques, viruses constituting the normal flora of research animals can have a considerable effect on research results and their validity. Baboons are known to harbor analogs of many of the herpesviruses and retroviruses known to infect humans and other primates. Despite many years of successful breeding of baboons by various institutions, no colonies of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) baboons exist that are free of even one specific virus. The center is developing the beginning of a self-sustaining colony of baboons free of all known herpesviruses, four retroviruses, and SV40.
To accomplish this goal, the center has establishedin collaboration with co-investigators and consultantsserological and PCR tests for each of the 11 target viruses. These baboon viruses include six herpesviruses (analogs of human HSV, VZV, CMV, HHV6, EBV, and HHV8), four retroviruses (simian foamy virus, SRV/D, SIV, and STLV), and SV40. Twenty-four infant baboons are being recruited into the SPF program in each of the first five years, for a final total of at least 66 SPF baboons. All infants will be repeatedly tested for each of the target viruses. At one month of age, larger social groups of 4-6 SPF animals are formed. Beginning at 2-3 years of age, SPF animals will be integrated into larger socially compatible groups. These groups will eventually mature into breeding harems of SPF animals. This approach provides infants with age-matched companions for socialization during their early period of development, minimizes opportunities for transmission of viruses to the infants from adult animals, and allows for the simultaneous elimination of many different viruses from SPF animals.
Services Provided
When the program is fully developed, the goal is to provide healthy, behaviorally normal, SPF baboons that are free of all known herpesviruses, four retroviruses, and SV40.