University of California, San Francisco
Inspection reports for the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF) beginning in September of 2000 reveal a continuing
pattern of animal abuse and neglect. On September 27 & 28 USDA/APHIS
officials performed an inspection of UCSF labs as a result of a complaint
which was filed against the facility. Their inspections found that the
complaint was "basically valid." The complaint centered around
experimentation on primates which denied them sufficient food and water.
Violations in areas of IACUC, Personnel Qualifications, Veterinary care
("Monkey #17562was identified as not being a good candidate for a water
restriction study, due to a chronic diarrhea problem, according to
veterinary statements in the animal�s medical record. The records did not
indicate a resolution of the chronic diarrhea [a water loss problem], yet
this animal remained assigned to the protocol and was placed on a
long-term water restriction schedule in October 1999. The animal was also
noted as thin and not gaining weight as early as July 13, 1999, yet no
medical attention was provided for this problem until August, 2000."),
Handling, and Feeding. The inspector concludes the report with a very
damning statement: "In my professional judgment, the nutritional
requirements of these animals were not met for either food or water."
On 5/17 � 25/01 UCSF is cited for IACUC violations for
performing survival surgery on an animal that was sick, and for
inappropriately monitoring a research protocol that involved confining
primates to restraint chairs for a period of up to 8 hours, and improper
use of post-operative analgesics. UCSF is also cited for inadequate
veterinary care of sheep at this time.
On 7/30/01 UCSF is again inspected as a result of a
complaint. The complaint was apparently filed because a primate had been
ill and vomiting for approximately 5 weeks. This primate was also involved
in a training protocol that involved water restriction.
On 11/13/01 UCSF is cited regarding IACUC and Veterinary
Care for inadequate supervision of post surgical treatment of sheep.
On 1/28/02 the UCSF IACUC is again cited for ineffective
monitoring of experimental procedures. Specifically, the primate water
restriction project is mentioned again. Insufficient means of monitoring
the weight loss of primates, and the endpoint necessary for the advent of
veterinary involvement are deemed to be insufficient. The lab is also
cited for inappropriate feed storage, primary enclosures, sanitation, and
inappropriate waste disposal.
On 8/5/02 UCSF is again cited for IACUC violations for
investigators not following experimental protocols, insufficient
administration of analgesics, insufficient consideration given to
potentially painful & stressful procedures (in primates), and inadequate
veterinary care. The veterinary care incident involved a marmoset that had
been allowed to loose 36% of his/her body weight without receiving any
treatment. Violations in sanitation and cleaning are again mentioned.
On 2/4/03 UCSF is again cited for IACUC violations
regarding post-surgical monitoring of primates and inadequate use of
analgesics. These violations involve projects where holes were bored into
the skulls of primates. The facility is also cited for falsification of
animal records, and inadequate sanitation.
On 4/16/03 UCSF is again cited for IACUC violations for
inadequate monitoring of experimental procedures and inadequate veterinary
care. This occurrence of inadequate veterinary care resulted in the death
of a rabbit. The rabbit was found unable to move, but was prepared for an
injection as part of an experimental procedure without regard to his/her
health. The rabbit died before the injection could be given. UCSF is also
again cited for sanitation violations.
It must be noted that one primate project underway at
UCSF, the research of Stephen Lisberger, involves severe restrictions of
water intake for primates. It is worthwhile to note that this project has
been funded by the National Institutes of Health for at least 22
consecutive years as of fiscal 2002. While the USDA has been making
substantial efforts to deal with this protocol within the last several
years, the question arises as to what happened to the primates in this
experiment pre-2000? Since the experiment involved severe water
restrictions, from the beginning, why was this not addressed sooner?