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Home / Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Volume 42, Number 6

Open Access A Simple, Inexpensive Method to Minimize Floor-Drain Obstructions while Supporting Environmental Enrichment in Primate Facilities

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An important component of nonhuman primate environmental enrichment programs is affording the animals the opportunity to manipulate objects. Although these objects and various bulky food items enrich the quality of life for nonhuman primates, they complicate the duties of facility maintenance personnel. A prime example of these sometimes costly complications is a seemingly never-ending series of floor drain obstructions. We devised a simple, inexpensive modified drain cover that prevents large items from entering the drain. The total cost of materials for this device was $1.12, and it required only 15 min of labor for assembly. The design and implementation of this modified drain cover illustrate why the interaction between physical-plant personnel and animal-care personnel is key to the operation of a successful animal care and use program and proper maintenance of laboratory animal facilities.

Document Type: Short Communication

Affiliations: 1: Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 2: Department of Research and Education, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, Texas 78602

Publication date: 01 November 2003

More about this publication?

  • The Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS) serves as an official communication vehicle for the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). The journal includes a section of refereed articles and a section of AALAS association news. The mission of the refereed section of the journal is to disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed information on animal biology, technology, facility operations, management, and compliance as relevant to the AALAS membership. JAALAS accepts research reports (data-based) or scholarly reports (literature-based), with the caveat that all articles, including solicited manuscripts, must include appropriate references and must undergo peer review.

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