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Media Coverage Animal rights group reports USF for neglect
Watchdog claims neglect led to death of five
research monkeys. By David A. Guidi An animal rights group filed a complaint Tuesday, claiming that USF
neglected and mistreated research monkeys, resulting in the deaths of
five monkeys. The complaint, lodged with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was
made by Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN, which claimed it received
a report from an anonymous source on May 30 stating that five primates
used in diabetic research by the Department of Internal Medicine died in
a two-week period. Officials from health sciences denied mistreating the
animals but confirmed that five animals had died since May from various
chronic conditions. SAEN is asking the USDA to conduct an official investigation. The
group also filed a request with USF's Division of Comparative Medicine
on Tuesday asking for all primate health care records, including
post-mortem paperwork. The division oversees the care of research
animals at USF. "If what we have been told is true, and I can only assume it is, then
there is a problem at the University of South Florida," said Michael
Budkie, executive director of SAEN. "To have five primates die in a
period of a couple of weeks, reportedly due to neglect, is a very
serious allegation, and we think that it is something that should be
looked into immediately." Phil Marty, associate dean of the College of Medicine, said that the
animals in question received good care. The nature of diabetic research
on the animals, a longitudinal study that required following them into
old age, accounted for their deaths, Marty said. "Unfortunately with animals, as occurs in humans, they develop a lot
of different chronic conditions," said Marty. "Those conditions are
treated and those animals are maintained for absolutely as long as
possible. Things happen with the kidneys and the eyes and the brain of
these animals, and there are pathologies that develop. These animals
were cared for very, very well." Barbara Hansen, an internationally recognized expert in diabetic
research who will become a full-time staff member on July 1, brought the
primate colony with her from the University of Maryland where she began
her research. USF recruited her to enhance USF's research program. The complaint filed by SAEN stated that one primate died slowly,
although the animal's extended sickness warranted euthanasia. The
complaint also states that Hansen was on vacation during the deaths.
Marty, although uncertain of Hansen's whereabouts during the first four
primate deaths, said that during the most recent death he believed she
was in Greece attending a professional meeting. Marty feels Hansen's
recent absences constitute nothing unusual. "Dr. Hansen's been back and forth at different times and was out of
the country to a conference," said Marty. "It would not be atypical at
all that the principal investigator who is involved in overseeing the
research gives scientific papers and does a little travel here and
there." Veterinarians in the Division of Comparative Medicine and research
staff oversee the care of research animals at USF. The university also
has routine inspections from USDA veterinarians. Some specific details in the anonymous complaint remain vague, a
typical circumstance according to Budkie. "When you're dealing with these anonymous sources, it's a little bit
difficult," said Budkie. "The situation they're in is that they're
trying to tell you what's going on, but there's only so much they can
tell you without making it clear who's making the report. They're kind
of in a catch-22 situation." The USDA said USF was guilty of "recurring noncompliance" after a May
2004 incident when several dogs received burns because heating pads used
to warm them after they were anesthetized reached harmful temperatures.
This followed an incident in 2000 when dogs received similar burns.
After USF was cited for the incident in 2001, USF's Institutional Animal
Care and Use Committee adopted measures to ensure no repeat would occur.
USF discontinued the use of heating pads following the May 2004
incident, said Michael Hoad, associate vice president of the Health
Sciences Center.
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