AAALAC Position Statements & Jim Sheets, DVM, MPH, DACLAM Council Member AAALAC, International Position Statements Laboratory Animals Attending Veterinarian & Veterinary Care Cage and Pen Space Social Housing Ag Animal Standards Rack Washer & Bulk Sterilizer Safety Occ Health and Safety Macacine Herpesvirus 1 Laboratory Animals - Definition Any live vertebrate animal (+ others as designated by legislation) Research, teaching & testing Animals owned by the institution The Attending Veterinarian & Veterinary Care The overall program responsibility is shared among the IO, IACUC and AV AV Responsibilities include: Animal well-being and clinical care (all phases of the animal s life) Highest standard of ethics Collaborative interactions with investigators AV must have sufficient authority & resources AV must have experience, training and expertise (for the species involved) AV must have access to all animals Timely provision of veterinary medical care (weekends, holidays, after hours) Oversight of preventive medicine & health surveillance programs, medical treatment, guidelines for sedation/anesthesia/analgesia + housing & husbandry programs Guidance & oversight of surgery programs & perioperative care Remain current and up-to-date on latest practices If no full-time AV on-site, must be a designated person who is responsible for daily animals care &facility management 2013 CLASS 1
IACUC-related responsibilities Regular, clear, communication between AV and the IACUC (and the IO) Input in protocol review & the development of study removal criteria Understand the potential for adverse clinical complications that result from experimental procedures In conjunction with the IACUC, assess the qualifications of those performing surgery & classify major vs. minor operative procedures Cage and Pen Space Comply with all national or regional regulations/policies/guidelines & conditions of funding Performance standards are paramount as described in the Guide, Ag Guide and ETS 123* In countries with no regulations/guidelines for cage or pen space, Guide recommendations should be implemented * the PS provides a link with extensive examples of performance criteria described in the three primary standards Some examples of performance criteria Group housed, social animals can share the allotted space such that the amount of space required per animal may decrease slightly with higher stocking densities than smaller groups or individual animals. Guide pg 55 Floor space taken up by food bowls, water containers, litter boxes, and enrichment devices (e.g., novel objects, toys, foraging devices) should not be considered part of the floor space. Guide pg 56 Some examples of performance criteria All animals should be provided with sufficient space of adequate complexity to allow expression of a wide range of normal behavior. ETS 123 appendix A, pg 15 Floor area is only one of the components that determine the space requirements of an animal. Enclosure shape, floor type, ceiling height, location and dimensions of feeders and waterers, features inside the enclosure, and other physical and social elements affect the amount of space sensed, perceived, and used by the animals in intensive management systems. Ag Guide pg 17 Social Housing Social housing is the default method Single housing of social species should be the exception (scientific necessity, incompatibility, veterinary reasons) Instances of single housing should be approved by the IACUC and limited to the minimum period necessary (with periodic re-review) Visual, olfactory, auditory (and when appropriate, protected tactile contact) with conspecifics should be provided for single housed animals Selecting the Appropriate Standard(s) for Agricultural Animals Scientific objectives + animal health and welfare needs will dictate which standard(s) best apply Standards that prevail on a high-quality, wellmanaged farm The collective judgment of the PI, IACUC and AV should determine which standard is best Rationale for decision should be documented *OLAW requires that the ILAR Guide be used for PHS funded studies 2013 CLASS 2
Rack Washer & Bulk Sterilizer Safety 1) Ease of egress 2) A de-energizing mechanism 3) Personnel training Alternatives might include buddy system, easy-open doors, lock-out system Instructional signage should be posted Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) An OHS program must be part of the overall animal program Includes: Hazard identification Risk assessment Personnel training & protection Written procedures for hazard use/ monitoring Medical evaluation Preventive medicine Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) All personnel at risk must be considered under the OHS program The extent and level of participation should be based on: hazards posed by the animals/ materials used exposure intensity/ duration and frequency Susceptibility of personnel History of occupational illness/ injury Macacine Herpesvirus 1 Assume all macaques are harboring the virus Must have a protection and prevention program as part of the OHSP: SOP s and training for handling macaques (tissues) and for exposures Risk assessment and education Readily available supplies, first aid and specimen collection kits Maintenance of an exposure log PPE (hand, arm, eye and mucous membrane protection) Access to OHS (medical care) staff who are knowledgeable of risks and acute disease AAALAC, Intl s accreditation process Three primary standards Application of performance standards Animals included in the accredited unit Animal ownership Invertebrate animals 2013 CLASS 3
Institutional responsibilities Allergy prevention Frequency of program review & facility inspection Harm-benefit analysis Nonaffiliated member of the IACUC Post-approval monitoring Program-wide IACUC exceptions Reporting animal welfare concerns Surgery in investigator laboratories Institutional responsibilities (continued) Non-pharmaceutical-grade compounds (NEW) Client-owned animals in veterinary colleges (NEW) Animal environment, housing and management Trio breeding Cage sanitation frequency (NEW) Chick and piglet environmental temperature Environmental enrichment Multiple species in a housing room Use of wood pallets for feed/bedding storage Social housing and social experience (NEW) Frequency of monitoring rodent traps (NEW) Veterinary Medical Care Calibrating anesthetic equipment Aseptic surgery and alcohol as a disinfectant Intraoperative monitoring Rodent surgery record keeping Physical plant Designing a new facility or renovation Emergency power supply Exposed pipes and ductwork in the animal facility Hospital stops Humidity control Recycled air (NEW) Vibration detection and suppression Windows in animal rooms MR scanners and cryogen gas storage Administration What is AAALAC? How is AAALAC governed? What is the Council on accreditation? How does someone become a Council member? What are ad hoc consultants? How does someone become an ad hoc consultant? How many animal care and use programs are accredited? 2013 CLASS 4
Administration (continued) Does AAALAC make its own regs and policies? How extensive is an AAALAC evaluation? Are small programs eligible? Are agricultural animal programs eligible? How much does accreditation cost? The accreditation process Program descriptions Accreditation fees Confidentiality Drop-in visits Should vs. Must (NEW) Maintaining accreditation Annual reports Reporting requirements Members only section of the website 2013 CLASS 5