Technical note: Urine collection from vervet monkeys by instrumental conditioning

Area of Science:

• Primate behavior
• Animal training methodologies
• Non-invasive biological sampling

Background:

• Urine sample collection in non-human primates can be challenging.
• Maintaining social group integrity is crucial for animal welfare.
• Previous methods may require separation, causing stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a non-invasive method for collecting urine samples from vervet monkeys.
• To assess the efficacy of positive reinforcement training for urine sample collection.
• To ensure animal welfare by avoiding social group separation.

Main Methods:

• Adult male vervet monkeys housed in social groups were trained using positive reinforcement (peanut rewards).
• Training focused on voluntary urination on demand into a collection beaker.
• Sample collection occurred without separating individuals from their social environment.

Main Results:

• Successful training of vervet monkeys to urinate on demand.
• Urine samples were collected effectively using the described positive reinforcement technique.
• No separation from social groups was required during training or sampling.

Conclusions:

• Positive reinforcement is an effective and ethical method for training vervet monkeys to provide urine samples.
• This technique facilitates non-invasive biological sample collection while maintaining social cohesion and animal welfare.
• The developed method offers a practical approach for research involving primate urine analysis.