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News :: Education : Environment |
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Harvard Investigated Over Southborough Primate Death |
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by Evan Lips
(No verified email address) |
08 Aug 2010
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Was the death of the primate caused by
his being sent while in a cage into a cage
washing machien? He was found dead in the cage |
By Evan Lips/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Aug 03, 2010 @ 12:45 AM
SOUTHBOROUGH —
The federal government is weighing whether it will launch a formal probe into the practices of the New England Primate Research Center following the death of an animal there in June.
"The preliminary step is simply making the routine inspection," said David Sacks, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Research facilities are responsible for following protocol to the letter."
During a June 29 inspection, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services said it found the body of a primate on the floor of a cage that had been sent through a cage-washing system on June 9.
Sacks said yesterday the agency is uncertain about whether it will launch a formal probe.
In her report, Veterinary Medical Officer Paula S. Gladue, who works for the agency, said that "results of microscopic examinations of the body are consistent with the conclusion that the non-human primate had died before the enclosure was put into the cage washer."
The cause of death was not disclosed in Gladue's report. The report did not identify the primate's species.
Michael A. Budkie, co-founder of an Ohio-based animal rights organization called Stop Animal Exploitation Now, sent copies of the June 29 inspection report to the Daily News.
Sacks said the USDA makes its investigation reports available online.
He said the USDA is dedicated to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. "It's typical for us to routinely inspect facilities like these once a year."
Budkie said yesterday that he's skeptical of the conclusion that the primate was dead before it was sent through the cage washer.
"Cage washers are designed to sterilize cages and that process would cause changes to the animal's tissue," he said. "You'd think that would compromise the ability to tell how the animal died.
"In the end, shouldn't they have noticed there was a dead primate inside the cage?"
The Southborough facility, owned and operated by Harvard Medical School, is one of eight National Primate Research Centers. It houses 1,800 primates.
USDA records indicate no violations were recorded during the facility's previous inspection, which was Feb. 9.
Gladue's report, however, suggests the facility's staff might not have been adequately trained.
"Whenever primary enclosures are cleaned using steam, primates must be removed to ensure the animals are not harmed, wetted or distressed in the process," Gladue stated. "The failure of personnel to remove a primate from a primary enclosure prior to cleaning by steam in a mechanical cage washer has direct and adverse affects on the health and well-being of the animal.
"The research facility needs to take appropriate steps to ensure that all personnel are instructed in the requirements of this section for the health and safety of the animals."
Harvard Medical School did not respond to requests for comment.
(Evan Lips can be reached at 508-490-7461 or elips [at] cnc.com.)
Copyright 2010 The MetroWest Daily News. Some rights reserved
http://www.midwestdailynews.com |
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