Abstract
Primates are easily stressed by the conventional veterinary blood sampling routine and consequently, measured blood parameters may be biased. In this study, we tested blood-sucking bugs (Dipetalogaster maximus) on one lemur and two ape species (Microcebus murinus, Pongo abelii, Pan paniscus) as an alternative, non-invasive technique for bleeding primates. Within time periods of between 6 and 62 min we obtained blood volumes of 0.01–2.4 ml in 11 out of 12 trials from all three species. Therefore, we conclude that these bugs represent a new, gentle and effective tool for bleeding captive primates without stress.
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Acknowledgements
Our thanks are extended to Dr. Ute Radespiel and Prof. Dr. Elke Zimmermann for providing Ruth Thomsen access to their lemur colony in Hannover. Special thanks go to the Zoo Frankfurt and to the caretaker Carsten Knott who trained Ruth Thomsen on how to cooperate with bonobos and orang-utans. We also would like to thank Prof. Dr. Guenther Schaub for providing his knowledge on the bug’s biochemistry and Prof. Dr. Kiyoaki Matsubayashi for his helpful information on conventional bleeding methods in primates. Ruth Thomsen thanks the “Berliner Programm zur Förderung der Chancengleichheit für Frauen in Forschung und Lehre, –16/04” for a grant to perform this study.
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Thomsen, R., Voigt, C.C. Non-invasive blood sampling from primates using laboratory-bred blood-sucking bugs (Dipetalogaster maximus; Reduviidae, Heteroptera). Primates 47, 397–400 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-006-0194-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-006-0194-8