A pending suit filed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) against Columbia University, accusing the school of mistreatment of laboratory animals, may halt much of the animal research performed at the New York school.

The agency's suit alleges that laboratories in Columbia's Health Services Division violated federal laws protecting animals used in medical research. If Columbia is found guilty in court, the university could lose its license to perform experiments on animals.

Earlier this year the National Institute of Health (NIH) suspended funding to Columbia for research with non-rodent animals after several unannounced spot checks at school facilities.

Approximately 15 percent of animals used at the Health Sciences Division--which includes the medical, dental, and nursing schools--are affected under the NIH's action to rescind $75 million in funding.

A spokesman for the USDA said that the agency's suit was filed primarily to force Columbia to comply with recently revised animal welfare laws. He said that the USDA expects that the school will plead guilty once the case reaches court.

Problems in Columbia's handling of laboratory animals was publicized after the university announced in December that it would not be able to comply with new federal laws setting guidelines for the treatment of animals in research. The announcement initiated an investigation into the university's facilities and eventually the unannounced inspection.

Columbia has temporarily halted all non-rodent animal research at its facilities. Some animals have been moved to other laboratories, which will continue to receive NIH funds.

Last year Congress revised the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, which is enforced by the USDA, establishing new guidelines on research animal treatment. The legislation, which took effect at the beginning of this year, calls for a "physical environment adequate to promote the psychological well-being of primates."

The alleged abuse of animals at Columbia prompted two bomb threats at the school last week, forcing several buildings to be evacuated. Animal rights activists are suspected perpetrators of the bomb scares.