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Development of a body condition scoring system for nonhuman primates using Macaca mulatta as a model

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Abstract

The nutritional status of individual monkeys in research projects is an important yet sometimes overlooked variable that complicates the interpretation of research findings. The authors offer a framework for scoring fatness and muscularity in a semiquantitative manner without special equipment and in a way that could easily be accomplished during a routine physical examination. Body condition scoring can be used to assess the health of individual animals as well as determine nutritional adequacy within groups of animals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Resources, The Scripps Research Institute, MB-18, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 92037, CA

    Karen J. Clingerman MS, DVM

  2. California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, 95616, CA

    Laura Summers DVM

Authors
  1. Karen J. Clingerman MS, DVM
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  2. Laura Summers DVM
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Correspondence to Karen J. Clingerman MS, DVM.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Clingerman, K., Summers, L. Development of a body condition scoring system for nonhuman primates using Macaca mulatta as a model. Lab Anim 34, 31–36 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0505-31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0505-31

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