Citation

Watson SL, McCoy JG, Fontenot MB, Hanbury DB, Ward CP. J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 2009; 48(2): 185-191.

Affiliation

University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Psychology, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA. sheree.watson@usm.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

19383216

PMCID

PMC2679665

Abstract

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) among captive primates is a recurring problem for those who manage such facilities. Its prevalence highlights the need for research evaluating the effectiveness of potential treatment approaches. In the present study, 4 wk of dietary supplementation with L-tryptophan (100 mg daily) was evaluated for the treatment of self-inflicted wounds in 22 small-eared bushbabies, a prosimian primate, with a history of SIB. The treatment significantly reduced stereotypy and was associated with a reduction in wound area and severity. In terms of physiologic measures, preexisting high levels of cortisol were reduced in bushbabies with SIB, whereas serotonin concentrations were increased after 4 wk of treatment. Results indicate that L-tryptophan as a dietary supplement may be a viable adjunct to standard husbandry procedures for animals exhibiting maladaptive behaviors such as stereotypy and SIB.

Language: en