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ILAR Journal V38(4) 1997
Understanding and Using the Internet and the World Wide Web

Internet Resources in Primatology
Larry Jacobsen, Raymond Hamel, and Joanne Brown
Larry Jacobsen is head of Library and Information Services, Ray Hamel is the Special Collections Librarian, and Joanne Brown is Technical Services Librarian at the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

INTRODUCTION

Primatology is represented on the World Wide Web (WWW1 or Web1) with more than 500 pages of information, located at 200 Web sites. These pages range from simple fact sheets about primates to sophisticated on-line stereotaxic brain atlases. Veterinarians, biomedical research personnel, institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC1) members, and others concerned with animal health can potentially find useful information about nonhuman primates using Internet resources; however, coverage is not consistent. Although considerable information can be found regarding the herpes B virus, for example, very little Web information is available on nonhuman primate anatomy and physiology. Like other disciplines, primatology is not fully represented by available on-line resources; and issues of source reliability, currency, and structure will continue to make the Internet a less than complete information resource.

To put things in perspective, none of the major scientific primate journals are currently available through the Internet. Although few of the 80 primate-related newsletters have full text representation and fewer still (like Laboratory Primate Newsletter) have back issues, the tide is turning. PRIMATES, the outstanding bibliographic database of the Primate Information Center at the University of Washington, Seattle (PIC1), can now be purchased only on an annual subscription basis for mounting on one's personal computer. However, plans are in development to make it searchable on the Web (Pritchard 1997). The International Directory of Primatology, published at the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (WRPRC1), is being converted for Internet access. Although issues of cost recovery have slowed the availability of essential information on the Internet, we and other publishers are beginning to find alternative ways to fund this process.

Even with its limitations, the Internet is growing as an important source of information about nonhuman primates. Many key documents, such as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 1996), are easily accessed and downloaded to a printer. There are Ebola sites, several links for primate care, and numerous sources of primate images. Increasingly major organizations in the field are represented through tailored Web sites. Although the WWW is well established as a communications tool, much work remains to make it an equally effective information resource. At the WRPRC, we have begun to look at how the extraordinary capabilities of the Internet might be applied to meet some of the information needs in the field of primatology.

The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR1) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH1) oversees the Primate Centers Program. Part of the mission of these centers is the dissemination of information to support primate research, education, and conservation. The WRPRC has taken an active role in both developing and organizing Internet resources in primatology (Jacobsen 1994). All sites linked through Primate Info Net, the Web site managed by the WRPRC, are reviewed for (1) accuracy of information, (2) currency of information, (3) reliability of source, and (4) appropriateness of content. In this paper, we briefly describe an information transfer model being developed by the WRPRC Library and Information Service, review Primate Info Net as a linking WWW site to primate resources, and then topically describe sites/pages that might be of interest to people working with primates in a laboratory or captive setting.

INFORMATION TRANSFER: THE WISCONSIN MODEL

The WRPRC has developed a working model for Internet applications in the field of primatology (Figure 1). The model positions the user at the center of a wheel linking Internet resources among which a user can move freely and interactively. A person working with nonhuman primates in biomedical research, education, conservation, or veterinary medicine can link via the Internet to an array of primate-related communications and information resources. In one scenarios, a user might go to Primate Info Net to search for enrichment sites, transfer to the PRIMATES (PIC) database to search the current literature, and then request documents from a document delivery service. Documents would be transferred electronically and read or printed at their site. To consult with an expert, this person could consult the World Directory of Primatologists or refer a specific question to Askprimate or the Primate-Talk electronic forum. Another alternative is to search for enrichment materials in the WRPRC Audiovisual Database to see what videotapes cover this topic. In other words, as all the pieces become available electronically, it will be possible to move around the information landscape from one's personal computer. Many parts of this model are already in place or under development, so this scenario is not far from reality. Obviously, this is a simple model for a very complex information-gathering process, but it does suggest how Web services can be interlinked. This kind of access can particularly benefit people around the world who lack well-developed local resources.

PRIMATE INFO NET

The key linking Web site for the Wisconsin model is Primate Info Net (PIN) (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin), developed at the WRPRC. Through Primate Info Net, the user can reach most of the Internet resources shown in Figure 1. First established in 1993, PIN connects the user to an array of international resources, including primate organizations, information services, veterinary resources, newsletters, educational and career information, legislation, and considerable coverage of the primates themselves. Some of these sites are dedicated exclusively to primates; others, such as zoological garden sites, may have only brief profiles of the primates they hold. All sites on PIN are indexed, and users can employ its search feature to find what is available on a topic of interest. For example, if interested in primate enrichment, one would search on the word "enrichment" and receive the following matches:


Coverage of primate topics on PIN varies, but new links are added through a monthly review process. For some species, such as the gorilla or chimpanzee, the user will find numerous links; for others, like the uakari, there are very few. Many government documents that relate to laboratory animals, including primates, are available through PIN. This is one of the resources to bookmark for quick access to information.

Listed below are some selected PIN links that relate to people working with primates in laboratory or other captive settings.

SELECTED INTERNET RESOURCES IN PRIMATOLOGY

We have selected electronic forums and Web sites for their potential usefulness to ILAR Journal readers. We have provided annotated coverage of contents and sponsorship for each site or page listed so that readers may bookmark individual sites of interest. Table 1 is intended as a convenient guide to the information services of the WRPRC Library and Information Services. Appendix 1 is a list of sites mentioned in this paper, including WWW addresses.

ANIMAL EXCHANGE AND SUPPLY

Primate Products and Services (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prodser.html)

Primate Products and Services is a new site on the Primate Info Net home page. Companies supplying products or services to people working with nonhuman primates can be listed. This site is sponsored by the WRPRC. A direct link is provided to company Websites from PIN. This list is managed by Larry Jacobsen, WRPRC (e-mail: jacobsen@primate.wisc.edu).

Primate Supply Information Clearinghouse (http://www.rprc.washington.edu/psic/)

The Primate Supply Information Clearinghouse (PSIC1) provides communication between research institutions to facilitate exchanges of nonhuman primates or their tissues. Inquiries on availability of animals or tissues are accepted from any research institution or zoological park. The goal of the PSIC is to increase sharing of these animals, thereby decreasing the need to import animals for research, and to ultimately decrease the number of animals needed. PSIC publishes the Annual Resource Guide (http://www.rprc.washington.edu/psic/ARG.htm), which includes listings of animal/tissue sources, species available, services, equipment, and programs. This service is offered by the Washington Regional Primate Research Center, Seattle, Washington (e-mail:psic@bart.rprc.washington.edu).

ANIMAL WELFARE LEGISLATION AND POLICIES

The panoply of legislation governing the use of animals in biomedical research is well-represented on NetVet (http://www.avma.org/netvet/), a list of veterinary Web resources created by Ken Boschert and managed by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This site is a principal ready-access point to veterinary-related documents.


Animal Welfare Act, Amendments, and Regulations (http://netvet.wustl.edu/awa.htm)

The Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966 to ensure that animals, including nonhuman primates, intended for use in research facilities, for exhibition purposes, or for use as pets are provided humane care and treatment. The act has been amended several times, and NetVet provides links to all the amendments as well as the original act.


International Primatological Society Guidelines for the Acquisition, Care, and Breeding of Primates (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/codes.txt)

Guidelines prepared by the International Primatological Society Captive Care Committee address the specialized care and housing required by nonhuman primates for their physical, physiological, and social needs.

ANIMAL WELFARE RESOURCES

In February 1991, the US Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS1) issued a final ruling that states: "Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan for environment enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates. The plan must be in accordance with the currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian" (9 CFR Sect. 3.81).


Education and Training in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: A Guide for Developing Institutional Programs (http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/BIB/EDUC.HTM)

The Committee on Educational Programs in Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (now Institute for Laboratory Animal Research), prepared its curriculum guide to aid institutions in implementing an education and training program to meet statutory requirements. It was designed to fulfill several purposes: (1) to assist institutional officials and IACUCs in determining the scope and depth of education and training programs that will meet both institutional needs and the requirements of the Office for Protection from Research Risks and the Animal Care Unit of APHIS, (2) to be a reference for the person or committee assigned the responsibility of coordinating these programs, and (3) to be used (particularly specific portions) by content experts who develop the material to be presented.


Environmental Enhancement for Caged Rhesus Macaques: A Photographic Documentation (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pef/slide/intro.html)

Viktor Reinhardt, formerly attending veterinarian and ethologist at the WRPRC, prepared this document, which records in words and pictures the environmental enhancement plan he developed for the rhesus macaques at the WRPRC. His plan emphasizes pair housing of previously singly-caged animals.


Environmental Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates: An Annotated Bibliography for Animal Care Personnel (http://www.animalwelfare.com)

This document, prepared and frequently updated by Viktor Reinhardt, Annie Reinhardt, and David Seelig for the Animal Welfare Institute, describes general and species-specific enrichment techniques and focuses on techniques of animate, inanimate, and feeding enrichment. The Web site provides links to full-text articles where possible.


Environmental Enrichment Information for Nonhuman Primates: 1987-1992 (http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/BIB/primater.htm)

This 665-item bibliography published by the Animal Welfare Information Center of the National Agricultural Library in 1992 covers the research defining and describing environmental enrichment for nonhuman primates, including techniques, facility design, training, and species-specific information. The resource also includes suppliers of enrichment devices, monographs featuring information about environmental enrichment, serials with articles regularly covering environmental enrichment, and organizational resources. The publication resulted from the collaborative efforts of 3 groups: the USDA National Agricultural Library, the NIH Library of Medicine, and the Primate Information Center of the University of Washington.


Primate Enrichment Forum (http://pantheon.yale.edu/~seelig/pef/ or http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pef)

Described as a "communication center focusing on environmental enrichment and psychological well-being for laboratory primates," this site, created and maintained by David Seelig at Yale University and a cooperative satellite site of PIN, links users to a number of bibliographies and articles about environmental enrichment for nonhuman primates. A portion of the site allows evaluation and discussion of particular enrichment techniques.

AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES

Many sites offer a variety of digitized photographs accompanying their textual materials. A few sites offer small collections of species-specific images. Two major Web resources, Primate Gallery and the WRPRC Audiovisual Archive, support the systematic collection of representative images of all primate species.


Primate Gallery (http://www.selu.com/~bio/PrimateGallery/main.html)

The goal of the Primate Gallery is to provide a central source for collecting, digitizing, and distributing primate images. Primate illustrations, paintings, and photographs are available for educational use, primate identification, and studies in taxonomy. This site was launched in 1995 by Tim Knight, Manager of the Image Analysis Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington (e-mail: primateweb@aol.com).


Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center Audiovisual Archive (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/av.html)

The Audiovisual Service of the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center collects and preserves vocalizations and video materials related to nonhuman primates. The collection consists of 6,000 slides, 700 videotapes, and numerous audiotapes, films, and slide sets. Coverage includes primate behavior, handling, conservation, habitat, enrichment, ethics, and welfare. Items are available for loan to institutions and individuals for research or educational purposes. Arrangements for borrowing materials may be made by phone or e-mail. The Wisconsin Center maintains the database PRIMATES-AV, in which searches can be run on request. Policies and borrowing fees are posted on Primate InfoNet. Slide sets covering primate taxonomy, conservation, and social behavior are available for loan. The Web site for this archives includes the complete catalog of videotapes and representative images from the slide collection. A special subset of audiovisual materials related to animal care is also listed on PIN. Topics covered include enrichment, handling practices, IACUCs, stress reduction, diseases, housing, personnel safety, and behavior. To inquire about this collection or to borrow items, contact Raymond Hamel, Special Collections Librarian (e-mail: hamel@primate.wisc.edu).

CAREERS IN PRIMATOLOGY

The International Directory of Primatology lists information for more than 75 educational programs focusing on primates. For people pursuing careers in primatology, there are several WWW resources. Many veterinary schools have information about their course offerings available on the Internet, and societies such as the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American Veterinary Medical Association offer information about educational programs. NetVet (http://netvet.wustl.edu/vschool.htm) is a particularly good source of information for those wishing to pursue careers working with laboratory animals. Briefly described below are 4 PIN-linked Web pages relevant to primatology.


Careers in Primatology (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/careers.html)

The Careers in Primatology Web page is intended as a central source of information for people considering careers in this field. It includes a frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) list and various directories of educational programs (see below). Currently in development is a series of career path profiles that include Careers in Biomedical Research and Careers in Veterinary Medicine. This page is maintained by WRPRC and is available through Primate Info Net.


Graduate Programs in Primatology and Primate Research (http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/dir98.html)

This list of graduate programs emphasizes primatology. Judith Schrier, Editor of Laboratory Primate Newsletter, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (e-mail: primate@brownvm.brown.edu), updates the list annually.


Primate-Jobs (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/jobs)

Primate-Jobs is a listing service for organizations with positions available or for those seeking employment. Listings are restricted to primate-related positions. Listing forms are available at the site, and all transactions can be completed on-line. Sponsored by WRPRC, this service averages 13,000 hits per month.


Undergraduate Programs in Primatology (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/aspunder.html)

The American Society of Primatologists maintains this list of undergraduate programs.

DIRECTORIES OF PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS

International Directory of Primatology (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/idp)

The International Directory of Primatology is not currently available via the WWW, but plans are to make the 4th edition Internet-accessible. This is the principal directory to the field of primatology, providing detailed coverage of more than 400 organizations and contact information for 2,200 people. The 3rd edition, 1996-1998, was published in September 1996. Anyone active in the field of primatology would find this to be a useful tool. Coverage includes centers, laboratories, educational programs, societies, foundations, and sanctuaries. A species index allows quick access to institutions, including zoos worldwide, which house nonhuman primates. The International Directory of Primatology and the World Directory of Primatologists, described below, are part of the Internet information services offered by WRPRC.


World Directory of Primatologists (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/wdp.html)

The World Directory of Primatologists is a useful Internet source for people in the field of primatology. In addition to contact information and hot-linked e-mail addresses, it is searchable for species and areas of interest. No cost is involved in being listed in the directory. This directory currently has entries for 1,600 people and allows for creation, revision, and deletion of entries using on-line Web forms.

ELECTRONIC FORUMS

Several electronic listservers exist to serve the field of primatology, some of which we describe below. See Appendix 1 for information on subscription addresses.


Calli-Talk (E-mail: listproc@gwdg.de)

Calli-Talk, sponsored by the European Marmoset Research Group, is a discussion group for people with an interest in Callitrichid (marmoset and tamarin) research. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe calli-talk <your email address>" to the address above.


COMPMED (E-mail: listserv@listserv.aalas.org)

COMPMED is an electronic discussion group for biomedical researchers and people working with laboratory animals. Subject matter includes comparative and laboratory medicine. Although the focus of this list on laboratory animals is broad, it is a very useful source of shared information for the primate veterinarian. List membership is restricted. To subscribe, send the command "subscribe COMPMED first-name last-name" to the address above. The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science hosts the list.


Primate Enrichment Forum-List (E-mail: david.seelig@yale.edu)

The Primate Enrichment Forum-List focuses on nonhuman primate environmental enrichment. The list has approximately 150 subscribers including veterinarians, technicians and zookeepers. Topics covered include cage and enclosure enhancement, husbandry and care, measures of stress and well-being, socialization, and cooperation methods for handling, injections, and transfers. To subscribe, contact David Seelig, List Manager, at the e-mail address provided above.


Primate-Talk (E-mail: primate-talk-request@primate.wisc.edu or http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/ptalk.html)

Managed by WRPRC, Primate-Talk is an electronic mail-based Internet discussion forum for primatologists. Subscribers include 1,200 people from more than 30 countries. Subject matter appropriate for Primate-Talk includes news items, information requests, veterinary topics, job announcements, research issues, and other primate-related discussion topics. It is necessary to have an e-mail address to subscribe to Primate-Talk, but there is no subscriber fee. This is an unmonitored list, and all messages received by Primate-Talk are distributed to the whole subscriber group. A digest option allows users to receive daily consolidated messages. Because of the range of expertise represented by its subscribers, Primate-Talk is akin to a living encyclopedia and is therefore an excellent place to request information or to get a referral. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to the address above and in the message body, type "subscribe primate-talk."

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

In addition to Primate Info Net Web site and Primate-Talk, the WRPRC electronic forum, two other important information and referral sites are Askprimate and Primate Information Center.


Askprimate (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/askprim.html)

Askprimate is an international reference service for professionals and interested laypersons who have questions about nonhuman primates. Supported by WRPRC, this service was established on a cooperative basis with the other NIH primate centers and related information services to bring the resources and expertise of these facilities to bear on primate-related questions. Since it was established in early 1996, Askprimate has received more than 1,600 questions. These questions are answered using either the resources of the WRPRC Library and Information Service or through referral to resource people at cooperating institutions.


Primate Information Center (http://www.rprc.washington.edu/pic.htm)

The Primate Information Center is the leading indexing service for the scientific literature relating to nonhuman primates. Supported in part by the Washington Regional Primate Research Center, the center publishes Current Primate References (monthly) and provides searches of the literature on a fee basis. An electronic version of their database PRIMATES is currently distributed on disk for stand-alone computers. In late 1998, WWW access and document delivery will be offered. Contact Primate Information Center Manager Jackie Pritchard for more information (e-mail: pic@bart.rprc.washington.edu).


Primate Info Net (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/)

See the foregoing description of Primate Info Net in the Introduction and under the heading Primate Info Net.


WRPRC Library and Information Service (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pamphlet.html)

The WRPRC Library and Information Service is more than the sum of its Internet programs represented in Table 1. This Web site covers the history, policies, collections, and functions of the library. Of particular interest to ILAR Journal readers are the Audiovisual Archives, which include many videotapes on animal care, the many books and resources on primate medicine, and the in-depth collection of newsletters and journals specific to the field of primatology. The 30,000 items in the library collection are available for loan, and the library is an active participant in both the University of Wisconsin Library System and national interlibrary loan programs.

NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

Because the Web is a very cost-effective way to reach a wide audience, we will see increasing numbers of organizational newsletters available electronically. From PIN, we point to a number of Web-available newsletters in the field of primatology, such as Gorilla Conservation News and Neotropical Primates. Three important resource sites for those working with laboratory animals are Laboratory Primate Newsletter, PIN Meetings Calendar, and Primate Newsletters.


Laboratory Primate Newsletter (http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/)

Published quarterly since 1962, the Laboratory Primate Newsletter is a resource for those working with nonhuman primates in a research setting (Schrier 1996). It regularly features articles on the care and breeding of nonhuman primates and has carried a series of hands-on enrichment articles. It is also a source of news and announcements pertinent to the field, containing abstracts of selected literature germane to primates as laboratory animals. The current issue, as well as all back issues, are available on-line. Editor Judith Schrier of Brown University (e-mail: primate@brownvm.brown.edu) has also culled the enrichment literature from past issues and mounted them as a separate file. The Laboratory Primate Newsletter is available in both print and electronic formats.


PIN Meetings Calendar (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/calendar)

This calendar of international meetings, seminars, symposia, and exhibits related to primatology was created as an adjunct to the discussion list Primate-Talk. It is maintained by Larry Jacobsen at WRPRC (e-mail: jacobsen@primate.wisc.edu).


Primate Newsletters (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/newslett.html)

This site provides access to more than 20 primate-related newsletters either available on-line or scanned into electronic format by the WRPRC Library staff with the permission of the publishers.

PRIMATE CENTERS AND LABORATORIES

Primate centers and laboratories around the world have helped to establish primatology as an important area of study. These institutions have trained primatologists for work in both the laboratory and the field, have supported major studies on human health and behavior, and have been involved in primate conservation and the preservation of genetic diversity. Primate centers and laboratories are important repositories for the collection and dissemination of primate information.


NIH/NCRR Primate Centers Program (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/nihncrr.html)

Established in 1960, the 7 regional primate research centers constitute a major scientific resource for the advancement of biomedical and behavioral research. These centers are the California Regional Primate Research Center (Davis, California), the New England Regional Primate Research Center (Southborough, Massachusetts), the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center (Beaverton, Oregon), the Tulane Regional Primate Research Center (Covington, Louisiana), the Washington Regional Primate Research Center (Seattle, Washington), the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center (Madison, Wisconsin), and the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center (Atlanta, Georgia). Sponsored by NIH/NCRR, these centers provide for the development and study of nonhuman primate models for basic and clinical research into the mechanisms and processes underlying human health problems and diseases. At the Web sites for these centers, one can find their research missions as well as information on their primate colonies, facilities and services, research accomplishments, and, in some instances, newsletters and breaking news. Web addresses for the individual centers are listed in Appendix 1.


Other Centers and Laboratories (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/otherctr.html)

Primate Info Net links not only to the NCRR primate centers, but also to many other primate centers and laboratories worldwide. Web addresses for the Duke Regional Primate Research Center, the Caribbean Regional Primate Research Center, and the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research are provided in Appendix 1.


PRIMATES AS PETS

Although it is generally agreed that nonhuman primates do not make good pets, many are privately owned. Laws governing keeping primates as pets vary from state to state within the United States. The WRPRC Library and Information Service frequently receives calls from individuals wishing to purchase primates. The Simian Society of America has published Primate Care: A Handbook (1995), assisted in this effort by a number of professional primatologists. However, reliable, codified information on this subject is not readily available on the Internet. Some animal enthusiasts have developed their own sites on pet primates.


Primates as Pets (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pets.html)

The WRPRC provides a page of information on primates as pets. This includes information on the advisability of keeping primates as pets, veterinary care, and diets.


Zoonoses Acquired from Pet Primates (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/zoonoses.txt)

Veterinarians David Renquist and Robert Whitney summarize the diseases carried by nonhuman primates that may be transmitted to humans. The potential hazard is great for the typical pet primate owner, who is unfamiliar with the pathogenesis of disease. This site reviews the most important infectious diseases of the pet primate that can present a threat to human beings.

PRIMATES IN RESEARCH

Four important sources of information about all aspects of primates as laboratory animals are NCRR (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov), Primate Info Net (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin), COMPMED, a Listserv for the broad biomedical community, and NetVet, a WWW site managed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.avma.org/netvet/vetwww.htm). We briefly describe selected examples below.


Directory of Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Program (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/accres/acchdir.htm)

Managed by NCRR, the site entitled Directory of Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Program provides links to institutions working together to ensure a stable supply of chimpanzees for research without depleting the captive population of these animals. The program further ensures that the captive chimpanzee population will be managed to maintain the population and to develop, through research, information that could benefit care of captive chimpanzees.


Directory of Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) Macaque Breeding and Research Program (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/accres/acspf.htm)

This program of NCRR provides for breeding of macaque animal models to be used for projects related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These animals are kept free of specific pathogens that would compromise critical research. The site provides information about and links to institutions working in the program.


Infant Primate Research Laboratory: Research Protocol & Technician's Manual. A Guide to the Care, Feeding, & Evaluation of Infant Monkeys (http://www.rprc.washington.edu/iprl/contents.htm)

This online manual, written by Gerald C. Ruppenthal and Gene P. Sackett of the Washington Regional Primate Research Center, describes protocols used in the Infant Primate Research Laboratory for husbandry of infant primates and their mothers and for standardized data collection. The protocols cover pregnancy and parturition, physiological assessment of maternal, neonatal, and infant animals, assessment of infant development, nursery care, the Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus protocols, and general husbandry procedures and techniques.


Mammalian Models for Biomedical Research (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/mammodels.html)

This document is a directory of biomedical research compiled by NIH. It includes information on research conducted at the 7 regional primate research centers in the NIH/NCRR Primate Centers program.


NCRR (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov)

NCRR serves as a catalyst for discovery for NIH-supported investigators throughout the United States. NCRR creates develops, and provides a comprehensive range of human, animal, technological, and other resources to enable biomedical research advances. Led by Dr. Judith Vaitukaitis, NCRR is the institutional home of the 7 regional primate research centers, and its support is concentrated in 4 areas: clinical research, biomedical technology, comparative medicine, and research infrastructure. This site includes links to the major research resources supported by NIH, information about grants available through NIH, and the text of numerous NCRR publications.


Nonhuman Primate Genetics Typing Lab (http://www.trinity.edu/~wstone/index.htm)

The Nonhuman Primate Genetics Typing Laboratory, located at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, provides a number of genetics-related services. These include genetic typing using DNA markers for parentage determination, preparing genetic profiles, calculating levels of inbreeding estimated from genealogical relations, and estimating genetic heterogeneity from marker data.


Primate Cytogenetics Network (http://www.selu.com/~bio/cyto/)

The primary objective of the Primate Cytogenetics Network is to collect and distribute digital karyotypes, ideograms, and primate images to assist scientists in comparative cytogenetic studies. This site was created and is maintained by Tim Knight, Manager of the Image Analysis Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington (e-mail: primateweb@aol.com).


Primates and Research (http://www.fbresearch.org/primatef.htm)

The Foundation for Biomedical Research provides this summary of the various ways primate models are being used to increase our knowledge of human medical problems.


Simian Retrovirus Reference Laboratory (http://www.srrl.ucdavis.edu/srrl/homepage.html)

The Simian Retrovirus Reference Laboratory provides serologic and virologic testing of nonhuman primates for exogenous simian retroviruses: simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV); simian T-lymphotropic virus (SLV); and simian retrovirus D (type D viruses, S.V.-D). In addition to diagnostic services, epidemiologic services are available to assist in development and implementation of strategies for control and elimination of simian retrovirus infections in captive populations and in establishing and maintaining breeding colonies of nonhuman primates free of specific retrovirus pathogens.


Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource (http://www.saimiri.usouthal.edu/prl/prl.html)

The Saimiri Breeding and Research Resource of the University of South Alabama is an NIH-sponsored laboratory for the study and dissemination of information about squirrel monkey reproductive biology and behavior. The goal of this project is to provide a national resource concerning squirrel monkeys and their tissues as well as to carry out research leading to a better understanding of squirrel monkey biology and research uses. This project has evolved over the years into the only breeding resource of squirrel monkeys in the United States available to NIH grantees and has led to development of a research and management group with expertise on reproduction, disease, and basic biology of the squirrel monkey.


Stereotaxic MRI Brain Atlas of Japanese Macaque (http://www.med.nihon-u.ac.jp/department/physiol1/index.html)

This site is a collection of 2-mm brain slice images taken from a male Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata, 6.5-kg body weight, age unknown). The images were taken at the Laboratory for Magnetic Resonance, Imaging and Spectroscopy, National Institutes for Physiological Sciences, Japan.


Template Atlas of the Primate Brain (http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/~atlas)

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain, prepared by Richard F. Martin and Douglas M. Bowden of the Washington Regional Primate Research Center, is a set of 63 drawings based on cortical views and coronal sections of the brain of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The atlas is designed primarily for use with magnetic resonance imaging, ventriculography, and other techniques that allow stereotaxis based on internal landmarks of the brain.

SOCIETIES

Although there are many national primate societies, we mention 2 of the principal ones below, the American Society and the larger International Society. People with an interest in primatology can learn about the programs of these professional societies through their WWW sites.


American Society of Primatologists (http://www.asp.org)

The American Society of Primatologists is an educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to promote and encourage the discovery and exchange of information regarding primates, including all aspects of their anatomy, behavior, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, nutrition, physiology, reproduction, systematics, conservation, husbandry, and use in biomedical research. Society members meet annually and participate in educational, scientific, and conservation programs.


International Primatological Society (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/ips.html)

The International Primatological Society promotes broad interest in primate research, education, and conservation. Meetings are held every 2 years and alternate between a primate habitat country and a nonhabitat country. This Web site is useful for its information about the society's congresses and membership activities.

TAXONOMY

For those sometimes knotty questions about primate taxonomy, the WWW can be very helpful. Mammal Species of the World is specific to mammals and Taxonomic Classification of the Primates, to primates.


Mammal Species of the World (http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/index.html)

Provided by the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Mammal Species of the World contains the names of 4,629 recognized species of mammals in a searchable taxonomic hierarchy that includes order, family, subfamily, and genus. The information was taken from the text Mammal Species of the World by Wilson and Reeder (1993). Colin Groves also served as a consultant on the primate portion of this database.


Taxonomic Classification of the Primates (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/amnattax.txt)

Colin Groves, from the Archaeology and Anthropology Department of the Australian National University, is the author of this document in which primate taxa are listed hierarchically by family, genera, and species. The document was created for the National Museum of Natural History (e-mail: colin.groves@anu.edu.au).

VETERINARY RESOURCES IN PRIMATOLOGY

PIN has a major page on its site dedicated to veterinary resources in primatology (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/vet.html). Some of these documents are housed at the WRPRC, and others are linked to PIN from sources such as NetVet.


Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats)

The goal of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (now the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research) of the National Research Council, is to promote the humane care of animals used in biomedical and behavioral research, teaching, and testing. The basic objective is to provide information that will enhance animal well-being, the quality the biomedical research, and the advancement of biologic knowledge that is relevant to humans or animals.


IACUCs (http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/bib/acuc.txt

This online bibliography, developed in 1992 by the Animal Welfare Information Center, covers general issues dealing with IACUCs. Topics include industrial applications, ethics, investigator and public attitudes toward the IACUC, membership and training issues, policy, protocol review, and regulation of the IACUC.


NetVet--Primate Page (http://www.avma.org/netvet/primates.htm)

NetVet--Primate Page is an alphabetically arranged list of Internet resources in primatology with links to those resources. Originally compiled by Ken Boschert, the site is now maintained by the American Veterinary Medical Association.


NIH Nonhuman Primate Management Plan (http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/primates/nihprim.txt)

This document, prepared by the NIH Office of Animal Care and Use, presents the results of a survey of nonhuman primate utilization and recommendations of a diverse group of researchers, care providers, and administrators to meet a 1985 congressional mandate for improved "psychological well-being" of nonhuman primates. This plan does not attempt to set the standard for nonhuman primate housing across the country, but rather is a research-oriented program through which various means of environmental enrichment can be tested and implemented at NIH.

SUMMARY

Although the Internet is in its early stages, it is fast becoming an important support information tool for people working in biomedical research and animal care. In this paper, we review Internet-based information sources useful to people working with nonhuman primates in laboratory or clinical settings. Through its Web site Primate Info Net, the WRPRC Library and Information Service has developed a model for information transfer in the field of primatology. This model is briefly reviewed and is followed by a topical listing of selected Web sites. Sites are annotated, and Web access information is provided. Those seeking a broader introduction to Internet resources relating to laboratory animals should look at A Laboratory Animal Internet Primer (Boschert 1996).

As increasing numbers of documents and other resources related to primatology become available via the Internet, issues of reliability, currency, and organization become increasingly important. Anyone with the basic technology can create a Web page, and little peer review exists for most Web page information. Professional organizations and universities can play a key role in mapping and evaluating this emerging resource. At present, the WWW might be considered a series of small islands that are electronically linked but do not aggregate into any recognizable geographic entity. Beneath its wonderfully transparent ability to rapidly map people to resources is the need for more systematic representation of scientific disciplines and their adherent resources.

1 Abbreviations used in this article: APHIS, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; IACUC, institutional animal care and use committee; NCRR, National Center for Research Resources; NIH, National Institutes of Health; PIC, Primate Information Center at the University of Washington, Seattle; PIN, Primate Info Net; PSIC, Primate Supply Information Clearinghouse; USDA, US Department of Agriculture; Web, World Wide Web; WRPRC, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; WWW, World Wide Web.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This publication (WRPRC/NIH 37-042) was supported by NIH grant RR00167.

REFERENCES

Boschert K. 1996. A Laboratory Animal Internet Primer. Lab Anim 25:23-30.

Jacobsen L. 1994. Information programs for primatologists: Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center. Am J Primatol 34:101-108.

Jacobsen L.., Hamel R., editors. 1996. International Directory of Primatology, 3rd ed, 1996-1998. Madison WI:Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center.

[NRC] National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 7th ed. Washington, DC:National Academy Press.

Pritchard J. 1997. The Primate Information Center. Located on the World Wide Web at http://rprc.washington.edu/pic.htm

Schrier J. 1996. From printed page to cathode tube: The evolution of the Laboratory Primate Newsletter. Serials Rev 22(2):61-70.

Simian Society of America. 1995. Primate Care: A Handbook. Tucson AZ:Simian Society of America.

Wilson DE, Reeder DM, editors, 1993. Mammal Species of the World. Washington DC:Smithsonian Institution Press.


TABLE 1 Quick guide to Internet Programs: Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center

ServiceFocusAddress
Ask-PrimateFor questions, information, and referralhttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/askprim.html
Audiovisual ArchivesSlides, videotapes related to nonhuman primateshttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/av.html
International Directory of PrimatologyDirectory covering 400 organizations, primates heldhttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/idp.html
Primate Info NetAccess to documents, images, other primate information on the WWWhttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin
Primate-JobsJob listing service for organizations or individualshttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/jobs
Primate-TalkElectronic discussion forum for primatologistshttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/ptalk.html
World Directory of PrimatologistsDirectory covering individuals in the field of primatologyhttp://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/wdp.html

FIGURE 1 Wisconsin model of information transfers in primatology, from the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center Library and Information Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison. All resources are available on the Internet at the time of this writing, except those marked with *, which are planned for Internet access later in 1998. Source: Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center Library and Information Service, 1998 (NCRR grant P51 RR00167).


Appendix 1 Access information for selected Internet resources in primatology

Animal Exchange and Supply

Primate Products and Services
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prodser.html

Primate Supply Information Clearinghouse (PSIC)
http://www.rprc.washington.edu/psic/

Animal Welfare Legislation and Policies

Animal Welfare Act, Amendments and Regulations
http://netvet.wustl.edu/awa.htm

IPS Guidelines for the Acquisition, Care and Breeding of Primates
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/codes.txt

Animal Welfare Resources

Education and Training in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: A Guide for Developing Institutional Programs
http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/BIB/educ.htm

Environmental Enhancement for Caged Rhesus Macaques: A Photographic Documentation
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pef/slide/intro.html
A print version of this document is available at no cost from the author, Viktor Reinhardt, 4605 Crescent Rd., Madison, WI 53711-4674 (e-mail: viktor@animalwelfare.com).

Environmental Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates: An Annotated Bibliography for Animal Care Personnel
http://www.animalwelfare.com

Environmental Enrichment Information for Nonhuman Primates: 1987-1992
http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/BIB/primater.htm

Primate Enrichment Forum
http://pantheon.yale.edu/~seelig/pef/
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pef/

Audiovisual Resources

Primate Gallery
http://www.selu.com/~bio/PrimateGallery/main.html

WRPRC Audiovisual Services
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/av.html

Careers in Primatology

Careers in Primatology
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/careers.html

Graduate Programs in Primatology and Primate Research
http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/dir98.html

Primate-Jobs
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/jobs

Undergraduate Programs in Primatology
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/aspunder.html

Directories of People and Programs

International Directory of Primatology
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/idp

World Directory of Primatologists
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/wdp.html

Electronic Forums

Calli-Talk
To subscribe, e-mail: listproc@gwdg.de
For information, e-mail: jerl@gwdg.de

COMPMED
To subscribe, e-mail: listserv@listserv.aalas.org

Primate Enrichment Forum-List
To subscribe, e-mail: david.seelig@yale.edu

Primate-Talk
To subscribe, e-mail: primate-talk-request@primate.wisc.edu
For information: http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/ptalk.html

Information and Referral

Askprimate
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/askprim.html

Primate Information Center
http://www.rprc.washington.edu/pic.htm

Primate Info Net
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin

WRPRC Library and Information Service
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pamphlet.html

News and Publications

Laboratory Primate Newsletter
http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/

PIN Meetings Calendar
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/calendar

Primate Newsletters
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/newslett.html

Primate Centers

California Regional Primate Research Center
http://www.crprc.ucdavis/edu/crprc/homepage.html

Caribbean Primate Research Center
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/oceanpkvetclin/homepage.htm

Duke University Primate Center
http://www.duke.edu/web/primate/index/html

National Center for Research Resources, NIH
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov

New England Regional Primate Research Center
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/nerprc/

Oregon Regional Primate Research Center
http://www.teleport.com/~orpc

Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research
http://www.sfbr.org

Tulane Regional Primate Research Center
http://rhesus.tpc.tulane.edu

Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/WRPRC

Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
http://www.cc.emory.edu/WHSC/YERKES

Primates as Pets

Primates as Pets
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/pets.html

Zoonoses Acquired from Pet Primates
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/zoonoses.txt

Primates in Research

Directory of Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Program
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/accres/acchdir.htm

Directory of Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) Macaque Breeding and Research Programs
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/accres/acspf.htm

Infant Primate Research Laboratory: Research Protocol & Technician's Manual. A Guide to the Care, Feeding & Evaluation of Infant Monkeys
http://www.rprc.washington.edu/iprl/contents.htm

Mammalian Models for Biomedical Research
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/mammodels.html

National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov

Nonhuman Primate Genetics Typing Laboratory
http://www.trinity.edu/~wstone/index.htm

Primate Cytogenetics Network
http://www.selu.com/~bio/cyto/

Primates and Research
http://www.fbresearch.org/primatef.htm

Simian Retrovirus Reference Laboratory
http://www.srrl.ucdavis.edu/srrl/homepage.html

Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource
http://www.saimiri.usouthal.edu/prl/prl.html

Stereotaxic MRI Brain Atlas of Japanese Macaque
http://glia.med.nihon-u.ac.jp/department/physiol1/index.html

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain
http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/~atlas

Societies

American Society of Primatologists
http://asp.org

International Primatological Society
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/ips.html

Taxonomy

Mammal Species of the World
http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/index.html

Taxonomic Classification of the Primates
http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/amnattax.txt

Veterinary Resources in Primatology

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees
http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/awic/bib/acuc.txt

NetVet Primate Home Page
http://www.avma.org/netvet/primates.htm

NIH Nonhuman Primate Management Plan
http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/primates/nihprim.txt





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