Purpose Bred Mice and Rats in Research, Testing and Teaching : Following Current Husbandry Standards
Having completed the first three small animal training sections, you should understand the importance of maintaining a pathogen free environment. You should also know that animals must be ordered and approved through the DLAR and be familiar with your contacts for ordering and quarantining animals. This training section outlines the husbandry standards provided in the National Research Council s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The University of Pittsburgh enforces these standards. Eight topics will be covered: 1. Housing 2. Breeding and Weaning 3. Transportation 4. Cage Labeling 5. Rodent Identification 6. Acclimation 7. Enrichment and Socialization 8. Reporting Animal Health Issues
1. Rodent Housing: All animals must be housed in approved animal facilities where temperature, humidity, lighting, and sanitation are controlled Caging and equipment sanitation must be performed regularly Animals may not be removed from the animal facility without IACUC approval. Animals may NOT be kept in a research laboratory for more than 12 hours without IACUC approval Animal housing and use sites are subject by law to IACUC review at least twice each year Deviations from the National Research Council s guidelines must be approved by the IACUC Common deviations include: temperature, lighting, music, cage height, and cage type (metabolic, behavioral)
2. Breeding and Weaning: Many investigators maintain breeding colonies of transgenic and knockout mice. The DLAR s SOPs: Rodent Breeding Colonies and Overcrowded Mouse Breeding Cages provides guidelines for these particular researchers. Maximum Cage Occupancy Standards
2. Breeding and Weaning (Continued): Remember that over-crowding rodents violates both IACUC and federal policy and will be reported as noncompliance. Also, as noted in the table, pregnant rodents must be suitably housed and only one litter can be maintained in each box. For investigators who collect tissue samples for genotyping, detailed guidelines can be found at the IACUC website under Guidelines for Genotyping Rodents.
3. Transportation: Any movement of animals outside of the animal facilities must be documented in an approved IACUC protocol. Animals cannot be transported through public areas (halls, elevators) unless specific approval is obtained. Remember, transport boxes must follow the IACUC SOP and be: Secured to prevent escape Covered appropriately to prevent human exposure to allergens Concealed and unrecognizable Ventilated to provide adequate air flow Maintained within a temperature range of 45 to 85 F
4. Cage Labeling: A DLAR CAMS generated cage card must be displayed on the front of every cage. This card is the primary method for record keeping and must be accurate and up-to-date. This cage card should convey the: Principle Investigator s name Protocol number Species & Strain Date of Birth and/or Date of Receipt
4. Cage Labeling:
4. Cage Labeling: Following Current Husbandr y Standards A BLUE post-procedure card is placed behind the primary cage card. The blue card indicates when and which procedures have been performed on an animal. The administration of antibiotics and analgesics must also be indicated. Please do not use abbreviations and keep in mind, if a treatment is not listed on the blue card, an inspector will assume that it wasn t administered. Remember that postprocedure cards and Animal Illness/Death Reports are kept BEHIND the primary cage card. Card Front Card Back
5. Rodent Identification: In addition to the primary cage card, rodents may need to be individually identified. Several methods are recommended: Ear Tag
5. Rodent Identification (Continued): Tattoos (tail, ear, foot pad, toe tips) Ear Notches Electronic microchip transponders Remember that the method you choose must be identified in an approved IACUC protocol. Also note that toe clipping is NO longer recommended.
6. Acclimation: Transporting animals causes stress. Stress initiates numerous physiological changes. An acclimation period of 48 hours is therefore required for all rodents used for survival procedures (Acclimation Policy for Rodents and Large Animals). Use of rodents during the 48 hour acclimation period is allowed for IACUC approved non-survival surgeries and tissue harvest. However, investigators are advised to consider the effects that shipping stressors may have on experimental data.
7. Socialization and Enrichment: Full time social housing is the preferred and expected method for housing social animals unless otherwise justified based on scientific rationale outlined in the IACUC approved animal care and use protocol, social incompatibility, or veterinary medical or animal welfare concerns. Single housing of social animals, when necessary, should be limited to the minimum period required and provide a combination of visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile contact of conspecifics when possible. Single housing in the absence of other animals (solitary housing) requires the provision of additional enrichment to provide for a social experience, which may include but is not limited to positive interaction with animal care personnel, periodic supervised access to larger enclosures, and supplemental enrichment items approved by DLAR management. More information can be found in the Social Housing of Laboratory Animals Policy.
8. Reporting Animal Health Issues: Regularly observe the health status of your rodents. Healthy rodents should have clear eyes and a smooth coat; they should eat, drink, and move normally. Keep in mind that rodents can harbor diseases without displaying symptoms. If your rodents appear abnormal or if you notice unexplained changes in your research results, the DLAR should be contacted. For Emergencies (loss or imminent loss of life), contact Veterinary Services emergency contact information is posted in all animal areas. For Non-Emergencies, complete an Animal Illness/Death Report.
8. Reporting Animal Health Issues (Continued): The Animal Illness/Death Report consists of three colored copies. Complete the form and forward the white and yellow copies to Veterinary Services. The pink copy should be placed behind the cage card of the affected animal. The pink copy must remain behind the cage card until the clinical condition is resolved; notes written on this copy are used to communicate treatment progress between the DLAR and the investigators. If you sacrifice the animal, write sacrifice on the pink copy, date it, and place it behind the cage card. Always return the pink copy to the DLAR, never throw away the pink copies. The notes on these pink copies are necessary for record keeping and must be kept by the DLAR.
8. Reporting Animal Health Issues (Continued): The University of Pittsburgh has an Adverse Events SOP. This SOP defines the concept of "adverse event(s)" in animals used in approved biomedical research manipulation at the University of Pittsburgh and lists the institutional requirements and methods to document such problems. The reporting of adverse events, review of circumstances surrounding them, and subsequent determination whether procedural changes are necessary to prevent additional problems has been designed to be an interactive process with the DLAR Veterinary staff in an effort to facilitate research effectiveness and improve animal welfare. It is important to remember that adhering to good animal care and housing standards means Providing the appropriate sized caging and environment. Identifying cages and animals properly. Transporting animals in a safe and secure manner. Acclimating animals to minimize physiological stressors. Addressing health concerns immediately.