Refinement Database

Database on Refinement of Housing, Husbandry, Care, and Use of Animals in Research

This database, created in 2000, is updated every four months with newly published scientific articles, books, and other publications related to improving or safeguarding the welfare of animals used in research.

Tips for using the database:

  • This landing page displays all of the publications in the database.
  • Use the drop-down menus to filter these publications by Animal Type, Setting, and/or Topic.
  • Clicking on a parent category (e.g., Rodent) will include publications relating to all the items in that category (e.g., Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, etc.).
  • You may also add a keyword to further narrow your search.
  • Please note that at this time, only publications dated 2010 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Animal Type and Topic, and only publications dated 2020 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Setting. Most publications older than 2010 can only be searched by keyword. 
Reinhardt, V., Zweifel, D., Pape, D. 1992. Improving the microenvironment of caged laboratory macaques. Animal Technology 43, 179-183 .

Simple technical improvements of three common deficiencies of macaque cages are described: a) dark lower row cages, b) inaccessibility of vertical space, c) lack of privacy.

Reinhardt, V., Cowley, D. 1992. In-homecage blood collection from conscious stumptailed macaques. Animal Welfare 1(4), 249-255.

Six adult female stumptailed macaques (Macaca aretoides) were trained within a two week period to actively co-operate during in-homecage venipuncture rather than in a restraint apparatus away from the homecage. The training was based on...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Transport-cage training of caged rhesus macaques. Animal Technology 43, 57-61.

A simple training protocol is described which ensures that [most] caged animals readily enter a transport cage.

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Space utilization by captive rhesus macaques. Animal Technology 43, 11-17.

The area covered by the floor was 3 times larger than that covered by elevated structures; nonetheless the animals were located significantly more often (89.8% of 108 scan samples) on elevated structures than on the...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Improved handling of experimental rhesus monkeys. In: The Inevitable Bond. Examining Scientist-Animal Interactions. Davis, H., Balfour, A. D. (eds), 171-177. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

The significant increase of serum cortisol concentration associated with involuntary manual or mechanical restraint during venipuncture was absent in females who were trained to voluntarily cooperate during the procedure in the homecage. The present findings...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Environmental enhancement plan for previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Animal Technology 43, 115-119.

To promote the well-being of previously single-caged adult (older than 5 years) rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the quality of research done with them, the following environmental enhancement plan has been developed and implemented at...

Reinhardt, V. 1992. Are rhesus macaques really so aggressive? International Zoo News 39(1), 14-19.

Several years of experience with pair housing of previously single-caged adult rhesus macaques and venipuncture in the home cage of cooperative, non-resisting animals lead the author to conclude that rhesus macaques are not as aggressive...

Laule, G. E. 1992. Use of positive behavioral techniques in primates for husbandry and enrichment. The Newsletter 3(4), 1-2.

Primates, as a group, offer great opportunities for positive reinforcement work.

Salzen, E. A., Marriott, B. M. 1991. Technical note: A primatrail or an inexpensive cage expansion for group housing small primates. Journal of Medical Primatology 20(2), 94-96.

An inexpensive method for converting standard laboratory cages into colony units for housing small primate species is described. In addition to increasing the volume of space available to the animals, this system also provides a...

Reinhardt, V., Pape, R. 1991. An alternative method for primate perch installation. Lab Animal 20(8), 47-48.

Modification of squeeze cages is described allowing the installation of a perch that does not interfere with the normal operation of the cage.

Reinhardt, V., Cowley, D., Eisele, S. et al. 1991. Avoiding undue cortisol responses to venipuncture in adult male rhesus macaques. Animal Technology 42, 83-86.

Six adult rhesus males were: a) habituated to actively cooperate during venipuncture away from the homecage in a treatment squeeze cage, and b) trained to actively cooperate during venipuncture in the homecage.The magnitude of cortisol...

Reinhardt, V. 1991. Training adult male rhesus monkeys to actively cooperate during in-homecage venipuncture. Animal Technology 42, 11-17.

A training technique is described for ensuring the active cooperation of 10 pair-housed and 5 single-housed adult male rhesus monkeys during in-homecage venipuncture. Mean cumulative training time investment per male was 40 minutes. Once trained...

Reinhardt, V. 1990. A perch for caged macaques. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 4, 134-135.

Wooden and plastic perches have been tested successfully by several hundred rhesus monkeys and 40 stump-tailed monkeys of both sexes and various ages over the last 3 years. Perches have proven an inexpensive, simple, yet...

Reinhardt, V. 1990. Avoiding undue stress: Catching individual animals in groups of rhesus monkeys. Lab Animal 19(6), 52-53.

Training technique is described. We have successfully trained two heterogeneous rhesus troops of 28 and 33 members. The catching procedure has become a routine that is no longer associated with excitation and distress. It is...

Poole, T. B. 1990. Environmental enrichment for marmosets. Animal Technology 41(2), 81-86.

Marmosets are among the easiest of primates to provide with environmental enrichment. Like other higher primates, they need companionship, adequate space with incorporated complexity, some unpredictability in the environment, ways in which they can manipulate...

Burt, D. A., Plant, M. 1990. Observations on a caging system for housing stump-tailed macaques. Animal Technology 41, 175-179.

This paper describes the introduction of a modified caging system and the benefits to both the animals and staff. The removal of metal grids at the bottom of the cage, and the introduction of direct...

Heath, M. 1989. The training of cynomolgus monkeys and how the human/animal relationship improves with environmental and mental enrichment. Animal Technology 40(1), 11-22.

This paper will attempt to show the marked improvement in behaviour of a small group of female cynomolgus monkeys, after a period of routine training and human interaction. A relatively short, but predictable, course of...

Fajzi, K., Reinhardt, V., Smith, M. D. 1989. A review of environmental enrichment strategies for singly-caged nonhuman primates. Lab Animal 18(2), 23-35.

Comprehensive literature review dealing with the following topics: a) Group housing versus single housing; b) Enrichment strategies using inanimate objects; c) Socialization with conspecifics; d) Role of animal care staff.

Love, J. A. 1988. Housing for rabbits. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 2, 47-48.

In most laboratory situations, rabbits are kept isolated in cages. ... We have attempted to correct this deficiency by keeping rabbits in either large tubs which can accommodate six or more animals or in indoor/outdoor...

Bryant, C. E., Rupniak, N. M. J., Iversen, S. D. 1988. Effects of different environmental enrichment devices on cage stereotypies and autoaggression in captive cynomolgus monkeys. Journal of Medical Primatology 17(5), 257-269.

Autoaggression and stereotypies in individually housed cynomolgus monkeys were compared in a standard primate cage and an enriched playpen environment. Stereotypy and autoaggression were markedly reduced in the playpen, but reappeared on return to the...

Segal, E. F. 1987. Caging of laboratory monkeys: Alternative to isolation housing in small cages. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 1, 6.

A case study of one pair of rhesus macaques.

O'Neill, P. L. 1987. Enriching the lives of primates in captivity. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 1, 1-5.

A summary of basic environmental enrichement for group-housed rhesus macaques. The essence of the social primate is lost under the stresses of the nonsocial condition.

Chamove, A. S., Anderson, J. R., Morgan-Jones, S. C. et al. 1982. Deep woodchip litter: Hygiene, feeding, and behavioral enhancement in eight primate species. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 3, 308-318.

Sixty-seven animals from eight primate species were used to assess improved husbandry techniques. The presence of woodchips as a direct-contact litter decreased inactivity and fighting, and increased time spent on the ground. Placing food in...

Nerem, R. M., Levensque, M. J., Cornhill, J. F. 1980. Social environment as a factor of diet induced atherosclerosis. Science 208, 1475-1476.

Rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet to induce atherosclerosis. Animals who received special attention from a person (frequent handling, petting, playing, gentle vocalization) showed a markedly lower incidence of atheroslerosis than subjects who received no...