Evaluation of Reproduction and Raising Offspring in a Nursery‐Reared SPF Baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis) Colony

Abstract

Baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) of a conventional breeding colony were nursery-reared to create a specific pathogen-free (SPF) baboon breeding program. Because the founding generations were nursery-reared until two years of age, it was suspected that the SPF baboons would exhibit increased reproductive challenges as adults. Mothering behavior was of interest, because SPF females were not exposed to parental role models during the nursery-rearing process. We compared reproductive data from the SPF baboon breeding program during its first 10 years with data from age-matched baboons during the same period from an established, genetically-similar conventional breeding colony. We also evaluated records documenting mother-infant behaviors within the SPF colony. The average age of menarche in SPF females was 3.3 years. The overall live birth rate of both SPF and conventional females was approximately 90%, with no difference in pregnancy outcome between the two colonies. The average age at first conception for SPF females was earlier (4.2 years) than that of the conventional females (4.7 years). In both colonies, primiparous females were more likely to abort than multiparous females. Similarly, primiparous females were more likely to lose their infants to death or human intervention. A mothering score system was developed in the SPF colony to facilitate intervention of poor mother-infant relationships. Records revealed 70% of SPF mothers were able to raise one or more of their infants successfully to at least 180 days of age, which did not differ from conventional mothers. SPF females returned to postpartum estrus 27 days sooner on average than the conventional females, independent of dam age. The nursery-rearing process used for recruitment into the SPF colony therefore did not have an adverse effect on reproduction or rearing offspring.

Local Virus Extinctions following a Host Population Bottleneck

“…Successful population bottlenecks, consisting of only infants and young juveniles, may therefore be rare occurrences. While the AGMs studied here may mimic events leading to highly susceptible populations with reduced viral and HLA diversity, the elimination of the adult-acquired viruses experienced by Caribbean AGMs may be more akin to that seen during the establishment of specific-pathogen-free monkey colonies by isolating and nursery raising infant baboons for later breeding (89,90).…”

Neutralization of pertussis toxin by a single antibody prevents clinical pertussis in neonatal baboons

“…Following infusion of antibody, infants were observed twice daily for 7 days to monitor clinical reactions. Baboons were raised in the nursery until challenge (45). Following challenge, infants were observed twice daily with clinical condition and behaviors noted.…”