Use Of Lesser Bush Baby (Galago Senegalensis) In Research

Abstract

This is a retrospective study concerning the use of lesser bush baby (Galago senegalensis) and their biological materials in research. We reviewed studies published between 1960 and 2007 in peer-reviewed journals using Medline, Pub-med as well as PrimateLit databases. The number and sub-species of G. senegalensis used, their origin, type and nature of study as well as area of research were analyzed. The factors of importance to the outcome of the results were also analyzed and recorded. A total of 234 articles involving 234 studies were identified. The studies were classified as acute (14.5%), chronic (50%), non-invasive (19.7%) and in vitro (15.8%). Of all the invasive studies recorded, 11.4% were categorized as mild, 26.3% as moderate and 59.6% as substantial based on the severity of procedures employed. In the studies that specified the number of animals used (56.9%), 6525 animals were recorded. The remainder constituted 0.8% of the total animals specified. Most commonly used sub-species were G. senegalensis senegalensis (57.9%), G. s. moholi (36.8%). G. demidovii (2.4%) and G. alleni (2.1%). The number of animals per experiment was highest between 1960 and 1964 and decreased over period. Studies conducted between 1975 and 1984 registered a significantly higher (P<0.05) number of laboratory compared to field studies. In these studies, Neuroscience was the outstanding subject area (35.5%) followed by Behavioural sciences (9.8%), Reproductive Biology (6.8%) and Anatomy and Morphology (4.7%). Factors related to the animals, housing and husbandry practices showed ventilation and cage cleaning as the least specified (5.7%) while animal density as the most specified.