Monkeys
In a few cases it is necessary to use monkeys in animal research. They are used because of their similarity to humans, but only when alternative methods or other animal species cannot be used.
Monkeys are used primarily for research to develop vaccines against HIV, malaria, and Hantavirus, e.g. Ebola, and for research on diseases of the brain.
Monkeys play a key role in research on HIV/AIDS since only humans and some monkeys become sick from the HIV virus. Other types of animals are not receptive to HIV infection and therefore cannot be used in research, e.g. for HIV vaccine. Read more on the website of the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (Smittskyddsinstitutet).
Since the brain and nervous system are well developed in monkeys, they can be used to study, e.g. mental disorders or behaviours similar to those in humans.
Monkeys play a key role in research on HIV/AIDS since only humans and some monkeys become sick from the HIV virus. Other types of animals are not receptive to HIV infection and therefore cannot be used in research, e.g. for HIV vaccine. Read more on the website of the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (Smittskyddsinstitutet).
Since the brain and nervous system are well developed in monkeys, they can be used to study, e.g. mental disorders or behaviours similar to those in humans.
Text: Karin Nordin
References
- John Bräutigam, veterinarian, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Helena Elofsson, Fil. Dr. Zoology, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Anne Halldén Waldemarson, University veterinarian at Karolinska Institutet
- Torgny Jeneskog, University veterinarian at Umeå university
- Karl-Gustav Jacobsson, University veterinarian at Uppsala university
Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
