SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE RHESUS MACAQUE BREEDING & RESEARCH PROGRAM: AIDS MODELS

NERPRC SPF计划是富有成效的，已经整整七年保持无病原体。在最近结束的1996-1997年繁殖季节，怀孕率很高，因为许多年轻成年雌性完成了第二个繁殖季节。自1993年以来，SPF殖民地的所有增长都是通过内部招募实现的。繁殖计划成功的一个标志是，由第二代SPF动物组成的成年繁殖群体的比例越来越高。1997年，大约30%的成年雌性繁殖者将是SPF创始人所生，我们预计，随着老龄动物的继续内部招募和退休，这个数字将在1998年上升到50%。定期检查所有动物对三种目标逆转录病毒和乙肝病毒的抗体是衍生和维持SPF育种群的关键。建立的SPF组现在每半年进行一次筛查，除非该组中有意外的临床疾病需要更频繁的测试。NERPRC的SPF群体经历了高生育率、良好的母性行为和最少的争斗。群体生育率平均为70%，新生儿死亡造成的损失最小。NERPRC SPF群体表现出良好的母性行为，因为排斥而需要手工抚养的婴儿数量非常少。正如预测的那样，SPF菌落是NERPRC由PHS支持的艾滋病研究的重要资源。殖民地的主要价值是为研究提供动物。1996年和1997年，大量动物被分配到NERPRC进行研究，预计这个数字将稳定在每年60只。此外，群体中健康的SPF成年人是血液、骨髓和其他组织样本的重要来源，用于经批准的体外研究。1997年，这个群体由388只猕猴组成。

The NERPRC SPF program is productive and has remained pathogen-free for seven full years. The pregnancy rate in the recently completed 1996-1997 breeding season was high as many young adult females completed their second breeding season. All growth in the SPF colony since 1993 has been through internal recruitment. An indication of the success of the breeding program is the increasing proportion of the adult breeding colony composed of second generation SPF animals. In 1997 approximately 30% of the adult female breeders will have been born to SPF founders, a figure that we project will rise to 50% in 1998 with continued internal recruitment and retirement of senescent animals. Regular examination of all animals for antibody to the three target retroviruses and HBV is key to derivation and maintenance of SPF breeding groups. Established SPF groups are now screened semiannually unless more frequent testing is warranted by unexpected clinical illness in the group. The NERPRC SPF colony experiences high fertility with good maternal behavior and minimal fighting. Colony fertility averages 70%, with minimal losses from neonatal death. The NERPRC SPF colony exhibits excellent maternal behavior, with very small numbers of infants requiring hand-rearing because of rejection. As projected, the SPF colony is a vital resource for PHS-supported AIDS research at NERPRC. The main value of the colony is to provide animals for research. Large numbers of animals have been assigned to studies at NERPRC in 1996 and 1997, a figure that is projected to stabilize at 60 per year. In addition, healthy SPF adults in the colony are an important source for blood, bone marrow and other tissue specimens for approved in vitro studies. In 1997, the colony consisted of 388 macaques.