Papers by Kathleen Morgan
Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 2021
Simple Summary The accelerated pace of research into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronaviru... more Simple Summary The accelerated pace of research into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) necessitates periodic summaries of current research. The present paper reviews virus susceptibilities in species commonly in contact with humans and predictors of susceptibility. With few exceptions, species selected for review were those in contact with humans through the entertainment, pet, or agricultural trades, and for whom report—either anecdotal or published—exist regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus and/or the resulting disease state COVID-19. The possibility of humans transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to animals and fear of animals transmitting the virus to humans endangers animal wellbeing; use of animals as research models also has welfare implications. As the search for appropriate animal models for SARS-CoV-2 continues, it is important to determine which species are most appropriate, so that the “three R’s” of animal research (replacement, reduction, and refinement) may be ...
Stress and Coping in Autism, 2006
... Abnormalities in the amygdala have been found in some neuroanatomi-cal studies of persons wit... more ... Abnormalities in the amygdala have been found in some neuroanatomi-cal studies of persons with autism (Aylward et al., 1999; Bauman & Kemper, 1994; Rapin & Katzman, 1998; Schumann et al., 2004; for a recent review, see Sweeten, Posey, Shekhar, & McDougle, 2002). ...
Laboratory Animal Science, Sep 1, 1991
Six female and six male adult rhesus macaques were given sticks and nylon balls as an attempt at ... more Six female and six male adult rhesus macaques were given sticks and nylon balls as an attempt at simple cage enrichment. A latin square design was used to compare behavior during separate 4-week periods with each object and during a control period with no object. Frequency and duration of 15 different behaviors were recorded. Resting was the most common activity which decreased slightly in duration when the stick or nylon ball was present (P less than 0.02). The mean duration of stick use was longer than that of the nylon ball (P less than 0.01). No other behaviors changed significantly, including the frequency of abnormal behaviors such as self-abuse, stereotypic acts, and bizarre postures. Generally, these objects were used infrequently and led to few changes in the behavior of singly-caged adult rhesus macaques. However, they did appear to stimulate activity for some individuals.
Laboratory animal science, 1991
Six female and six male adult rhesus macaques were given sticks and nylon balls as an attempt at ... more Six female and six male adult rhesus macaques were given sticks and nylon balls as an attempt at simple cage enrichment. A latin square design was used to compare behavior during separate 4-week periods with each object and during a control period with no object. Frequency and duration of 15 different behaviors were recorded. Resting was the most common activity which decreased slightly in duration when the stick or nylon ball was present (P less than 0.02). The mean duration of stick use was longer than that of the nylon ball (P less than 0.01). No other behaviors changed significantly, including the frequency of abnormal behaviors such as self-abuse, stereotypic acts, and bizarre postures. Generally, these objects were used infrequently and led to few changes in the behavior of singly-caged adult rhesus macaques. However, they did appear to stimulate activity for some individuals.
Zoo Biology, 1991
Simple toys and sticks have frequently been suggested as inexpensive forms of environmental enric... more Simple toys and sticks have frequently been suggested as inexpensive forms of environmental enrichment for nonhuman primates. Most descriptions of these items do not provide quantitative data on their use, or the effects that their presence have on general behavior. We tested wooden sticks and four different dog toys with aged and young adult rhesus monkeys to determine whether or not they led to decreases in abnormal behaviors, or increases in activity. We monitored object-use, abnormal behaviors, and general activity in a series of three experiments. Use of all objects tested declined sharply by the second day after they were placed in the cage. High levels of use were seen each time new objects were introduced, suggesting that a regular schedule of object rotation would lead to increased interest from the monkeys. No changes in abnormal behaviors or general activity were attributed to the presence of the objects. We conclude that sticks and simple toys have limited effectiveness as environmental enrichment options for aged rhesus monkeys. Where possible, socialization and/or actively responsive enrichment devices may be more effective in enhancing the lives of captive primates. In the case of animals in zoos, responsive environments and increased social opportunities also contribute to the educational, aesthetic, and health diagnostic missions of the institutions.
Developmental Psychobiology, 1999
Prenatally stressed infant rats were separated from their dams and littermates on postnatal Day 1... more Prenatally stressed infant rats were separated from their dams and littermates on postnatal Day 14 and their rates of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and myoclonic twitching in response to that separation were recorded. Compared to control pups, prenatally stressed pups vocalized significantly less often and showed significantly less myoclonic twitching in response to this test. Results are interpreted in terms of the ability of prenatal stress to produce infants that are behaviorally inhibited when in a novel or stressful situation.
American Journal of Primatology, 1990
Newly proposed federal regulations will mandate that singly caged nonhuman primates be kept in ca... more Newly proposed federal regulations will mandate that singly caged nonhuman primates be kept in cages larger than the current minimum standard, or be given 4 hours in an exercise cage per week. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of increasing cage size in improving well-being, the behavioral and heart rate responses of 10 female rhesus monkeys (Mucaca mulatta) to three different cage sizes were measured. With the exception of vocalizations, no significant differences in behavior were obtained. Grunts increased in the largest cage, following the birth of an infant in a cage within view of the test cages. No differences with respect to cage size were found in heart rate or activity level, although there were significant variations at different times of day. We conclude that modest increases in cage size are less likely to enrich the environment of singly caged laboratory primates than are changes in social opportunities or increases in environmental complexity.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2007
Animals housed in artificial habitats are confronted by a wide range of potentially provocative e... more Animals housed in artificial habitats are confronted by a wide range of potentially provocative environmental challenges. In this article, we review many of the potential stressors that may adversely affect animals living in captivity. These include abiotic, environmental sources of stress such as artificial lighting, exposure to loud or aversive sound, arousing odors, and uncomfortable temperatures or substrates. In addition, confinement-specific stressors such as restricted movement, reduced retreat space, forced proximity to humans, reduced feeding opportunities, maintenance in abnormal social groups, and other restrictions of behavioral opportunity are considered. Research in support of the claims for these environmental elements as stressors for captive animals reveals no unique suite of behavioral or physiological responses that will clearly indicate the cause of those responses; rather, it is up to us as managers and caretakers of animals in captivity to evaluate enclosures and husbandry practices to ensure the optimal well-being of animals in our care.
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Papers by Kathleen Morgan