REPORT ON PRIMATE SUPPLY FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIFIC WORK IN THE UK

A Working party of the UK group of European Primate Resources Network (EUPREN) considered primate supply for scientific work in the UK. Thro ugh a questionnaire, which achieved a very good response, it obtained details of primate use, sources and breeding in the UK and it put forw ard options to ensure that animal welfare is the best possible whilst ensuring continued supply. The questionnaire showed that contract rese arch laboratories and pharmaceutical companies use about 80% of the 42 33 primates used annually at the moment, with the rest accounted for b y academic establishments and public sector laboratories. Fifty-four p er cent are cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), of which nearly 90% are captive-bred outside the European Union (EU), the remainder b eing bred in the UK. Nearly 90% of cynomolgus macaques are used by onl y five institutions. Thirty-seven per cent of primates used are marmos ets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus), all of which are bred in the UK. Mos t of the rest are rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), about half of whic h are captive-bred outside the EU, the other half being bred in the UR . Overall primate use has increased from about 3000 per year in 1990 a nd users predict that requirements for all species except baboons (Pap io sp.) will be maintained or increase. Marmoset breeding in the UK is already closely matched to use, and it could be increased reasonably easily if necessary. Some of the existing breeding centres of macaques in the UK would be prepared to consider expanding to supply others, a lthough investment and imported breeding stock would be needed and it is likely that a large investment would be needed to breed a significa nt fraction of the macaque use in the UK. A further problem is that th e users of only about 10% of the cynomolgus macaques said that they co uld replace this species by rhesus macaques, which are easier to breed in the UK. The questionnaire showed that much of the use of macaques would be transferred to other countries equally remote from the natura l source countries of the animals, if constraints on primate use becam e more severe in the UK. Users felt that it is unlikely that much of t he work could be transferred to the natural source countries themselve s. A review of the literature revealed a paucity of information on the effects of transport on primate welfare. The importance of obtaining this information before making decisions about alternative means of su pply is stressed. Current schemes for the accreditation of primate bre eders were reviewed. A list of options is presented for discussion. Us ers vary so much in their requirements that it is unlikely that one me ans of supply will be applicable to all. Animal welfare will benefit a nd supply will be more certain if cooperation between those concerned (preferably through the UR group of EUPREN) is maintained.