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Updated: May 9, 2026
Multicolor Flow Cytometry Analyses of Cellular Immune Response in Rhesus Macaques
Published on: April 22, 2010
Effect of short-term pair housing of juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on immunologic parameters
Carrie G Benton1, Michael W West, Shane M Hall
1Veterinary Medicine Division (VMD), United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA. carrie.benton@amedd.army.mil
Abstract:
Social housing of nonhuman primates (NHP) in an infectious disease setting presents unique challenges, and individual housing is often scientifically justified. At our institute, we recognized an opportunity to limit individual housing to the minimal period necessary by pair-housing NHP after quarantine and separating them just before they are moved into holding rooms for infectious disease studies. To alleviate concerns that pair-housing followed by separation affects the immune system of NHP and makes them unfit as research candidates, we designed a short-term pair-housing study. After a 3-wk baseline period, juvenile rhesus macaques (age, 3 to 4 y) were paired for 7 wk and then separated for 7 wk. During the study, serum cortisol, lymphocyte subsets, and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. The average values for all parameters were significantly lower after separation than during the baseline period. We conclude that short-term pair housing is a viable option at our institute for social housing of NHP.
Insights
Pair-housing nonhuman primates (NHP) followed by separation is a viable social housing strategy. This method did not negatively impact NHP immune systems, making them suitable for infectious disease research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Primate Research
- Animal Welfare
Background:
- Social housing of nonhuman primates (NHP) in infectious disease research presents challenges.
- Individual housing is often necessary but can be minimized.
- Pair-housing NHP after quarantine and before study separation is a potential strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of short-term pair-housing followed by separation on NHP immune markers.
- To determine if this housing strategy affects NHP suitability for infectious disease studies.
Main Methods:
- Juvenile rhesus macaques underwent a 3-week baseline period.
- Animals were pair-housed for 7 weeks, then separated for 7 weeks.
- Serum cortisol, lymphocyte subsets, and proinflammatory cytokines were measured.
Main Results:
- Average values for measured immune parameters were significantly lower after separation compared to baseline.
- This indicates a potential calming effect or adaptation to the housing protocol.
Conclusions:
- Short-term pair-housing followed by separation is a viable social housing option for NHP.
- This strategy can help minimize individual housing duration while maintaining NHP research suitability.
