P URDUE ANIMAL http://www.purdue.edu/animals CARE AND USE COMMITTEE http://www.purdue.edu/animals P URDUE UNIVERSITY PACUC Newsletter MARCH 2009 Volume 27, No. 1 In This Issue; Reminders Animal Physiology Fun Histoplasmosis Information Recognizing Pain In Animals Pilot Studies New and Triennial Protocol Applications Spring is almost here! The PACUC office has been receiving a significant number of protocols (new and triennial re-writes) that are not on the current version of the application. Please always use the version that is available on the PACUC website and not one that you have saved on your computer. The most current version can be located at the following URL: http://www.purdue.edu/research/vpr/rschadmin/ rschoversight/animals/forms.shtml, How to Obtain Veterinary Care required! When any person believes an animal involved in teaching, testing, or research at Purdue University is abnormal, sick, in discomfort, or otherwise requires aid, a call requesting veterinary care should be placed to the Laboratory Animal Program (LAP) office. One of the LAP veterinarians or a veterinary technician is available at all times. The following procedures should be used to obtain veterinary care for abnormal, ill or injured animals: Normal Business Hours: Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Call the LAP office (494-9163) and tell the individual answering that you would like to request veterinary care. Evenings, Weekends and Holidays: Call the LAP office (494-9163) and listen to the recorded message to obtain information on how to contact the veterinarian/veterinary technician on call. Do not leave messages at this number if veterinary care is Call the veterinarian/veterinary technician according to the information in the message. Do not leave messages at this number if veterinary care is required! When reporting an abnormal animal, please be prepared to provide the following information: Animal identification Animal species Animal housing site and room number Your name and the phone number where you can be reached Brief description of the problem Based on your knowledge of the species, is this a medical emergency? Please remember that prompt veterinary care is essential to the well being of animals used in teaching, testing, or research! 1
Did You Know???? Physiologic Values for Chinchillas Average life span as pet 10 years (up to 20 years reported) Adult weight Males, 400 500g; Females, 400 600g Sexual maturity 8 months Type of estrous cycle Seasonally polyestrous (November to May) Length of estrous cycle 30 50 days Ovulation Spontaneous Gestation period 105 118 days (average, 111 days) Litter size 1-6 (2 is usual) Normal birth weight 30 50g Wean age 6 8 weeks Rectal temperature 37-38 C (98.5-100.4 F ) Heart rate 100 150 beats/minute Normal Physiologic Reference Values for Mice Average life span (months) 12 36 Average adult body weight (kg) Male: 20 40; Female: 22 63 Heart rate (beats/min) 427 697 Respiratory rate (breaths/min) 91 216 Rectal temperature ( C) 37.1 (98.7 F) Daily feed consumption (g) 3 5 Daily water consumption (ml) 5 8 Recommended environmental relative humidity (%) 45 5 Recommended environmental Temperature ( C) 24 25 (75.2 F 77.0 F) Age at puberty (weeks) Male: 6; Female: 6 Estrus cycle length (days) 4 5 Length of gestation (days) 19-21 Average litter size 7-11 Weaning age (days) 18-21 Normal Physiologic Reference Values for Rats Average life span (months) 26 40 Average adult body weight (kg) Male: 267 500; Female: 225 325kg Heart rate (beats/min) 313 493 Respiratory rate (breaths/min) 71 146 Rectal temperature ( C) 37.7 (99.8 F) Daily feed consumption (g) 15 20 Daily water consumption (ml) 22 33 Recommended environmental relative humidity (%) 45 55 Age at puberty (days) Male: 40 75; Female: 37 67 Estrus cycle length (days) 4 5 Length of gestation (days) 21 23 Average litter size 6 13 Weaning age (days) 21 Normal Physiologic Values for the Rabbit (healthy 2.5 3.0 kg New Zealand white rabbits) Body Weight: Adult buck (male) 2 5 kg Adult doe (female) 2 6 kg Birth weight (kit) 30 80 g Rectal body temperature 38.5 40.0 C (101.3 104.0 F) Normal heart rate 180 250 beats / minute Normal respiratory rate 30 60 breaths / minute Daily pellet food consumption 50 g/kg Daily water consumption 50 150 ml/kg Daily urine excretion 10 35 ml/kg Sexual maturity 22 52 weeks Estrous cycle Induced ovulators Gestation length 30 33 days Litter size 4 12 kits 2
P URDUE ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE http://www.purdue.edu/animals P URDUE UNIVERSITY Histoplasmosis Spring is just around the corner and many will be cleaning barns and working up soil; getting rid of the winter clutter and preparing for a beautiful spring. Keep in mind where you are working and what potential hazards could be lurking. Protect yourself with proper PPE. Definition Every year, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide get a lung disease called histoplasmosis. It's transmitted through airborne spores that you breathe into your lungs when you work in or around soil that contains a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. Farmers, landscapers, construction workers and people who have contact with bird or bat droppings are especially at risk for histoplasmosis. Most people with histoplasmosis never develop signs and symptoms and aren't aware they have the infection. But for some people primarily infants and those with compromised immune systems histoplasmosis can be serious. Effective treatments are available for even the most severe forms of histoplasmosis. But these therapies often involve extensive hospital stays and can cause serious side effects. That's why it's important for people with compromised immune systems to avoid exposure to histoplasmosis. Symptoms Several types of histoplasmosis exist, ranging from mild to lifethreatening. The most benign form produces no signs or symptoms, but severe infections can cause serious problems throughout your body as well as in your lungs. When signs and symptoms do occur, they usually appear three to 17 days after exposure. Mild to moderate cases Asymptomatic primary histoplasmosis. This is the most common form of histoplasmosis and usually causes no signs or symptoms in otherwise healthy people who become infected. The only sign of infection may be small scars in the lungs. In that case, special radiologic testing can usually confirm that nodules aren't cancerous. Acute symptomatic pulmonary histoplasmosis. This form of histoplasmosis tends to occur in otherwise healthy people who have had intense exposure to H. capsulatum. Because the severity of the disease depends on the number of fungus spores inhaled, reactions may range from a brief period of not feeling well to serious illness. Typical signs and symptoms include: Fever Headache Dry cough Chills Chest pain Weight loss Sweats In some cases, arthritis or pericarditis an inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart may develop weeks or months after the initial infection. These problems aren't a sign that the infection has spread outside your lungs. Instead, they develop because your immune system responds to the fungus with an unusual amount of inflammation. On the other end of the spectrum, people who have inhaled a large number of spores may develop severe acute pulmonary syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in which breathing becomes difficult. Acute pulmonary syndrome is frequently referred to as spelunker's lung because it often occurs after intense exposure to bat excrement stirred up by explorers in caves. Causes Histoplasma capsulatum is primarily found in the temperate regions of the world and is the most common fungus in the United States. It's endemic in the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi river valleys, where the great majority of people have been exposed. The fungus thrives in damp soil that's rich in organic material, especially the droppings from birds and bats. For that reason, it's particularly common in chicken and pigeon coops, old barns, caves and parks. Birds themselves aren't infected with histoplasmosis their body temperature is too high but they can carry H. capsulatum on their feathers, and their droppings support the growth of the fungus. Birds commonly kept as pets, such as canaries and parakeets, aren't affected. And although bats, which have a lower body temperature, can be infected, you can't get histoplasmosis from a bat or from another person. Instead, you develop histoplasmosis when you inhale the reproductive cells (spores) of the fungus. The spores are extremely light and float into the air when dirt or other contaminated material is disturbed. That's why a high number of cases occur in farmers, landscapers, construction workers, spelunkers and people living near construction sites. Histoplasmosis and your lungs Because the spores of H. capsulatum are microscopic in size, they can easily enter your lungs and settle in the small air sacs. There, the spores are trapped by macrophages immune system cells that attack foreign organisms. The macrophages carry the spores to lymph nodes in your chest, where they continue to multiply. This may lead to inflammation, scarring and calcium deposits. In cases of heavy infection, the lymph nodes may become so enlarged that they obstruct your esophagus or your lungs' airways. continued on page 4. 3
Histoplasmosis (continued from page 3) Most often, however, you're not likely to have noticeable signs and symptoms, and the infection clears on its own without treatment. But if your immune system isn't able to eliminate the spores, they can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. In that case, you may develop a variety of severe problems that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Risk factors Anyone exposed to H. capsulatum is likely to become infected. People who inhale a huge number of spores those who work with heavily infected soil or have close contact with bats, for example are more likely to develop signs and symptoms. Most at risk of infection Farmers Poultry keepers, especially when cleaning chicken coops, pigeon roosts, and bat-infested barns or lofts Construction workers, especially those who work around old buildings with roosting birds Landscapers and gardeners People involved in building roads People who monitor bird populations or who have contact with bats or bat caves Archeologists Geologists Prevention It's difficult to prevent exposure to the fungus that causes histoplasmosis, especially in parts of the country where the disease is widespread. Even so, these steps can help reduce the risk of infection: Spray contaminated soil. Before you work in or dig soil that's likely to harbor H. capsulatum, spray it thoroughly with water. This can help prevent spores from being released into the air. Spraying chicken coops and barns before cleaning them also can reduce your risk. Use an effective face mask. This is the best way to protect yourself from soil-borne organisms if you must work in contaminated areas or in caves known to harbor bats. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends using Part 84 particulate respirators certified by NIOSH. 1998-2008 MayoClinic.com See a Doctor Now When to seek medical advice Contact your doctor if you live in an area where histoplasmosis is common and you develop chest pain, cough and a fever. Although many illnesses cause similar signs and symptoms, your doctor may want to test you for the presence of H. capsulatum. If your immune system has been weakened by illness or medications, seek medical care immediately. 4
Recognizing Pain in Animals The recognition of pain, discomfort, or distress in animals can be difficult. Well being in animals is often associated with normal species specific behavior. Therefore, recognition and assessment of pain and distress in research and teaching animals most often relies upon one making an observation of abnormal behavior. Assessment for pain or distress can be affected by many complicating factors including the age of the animal, degree of apprehension, the nature and frequency of human contacts, and control of visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile stimuli. As such, it is imperative that personnel involved in the care and use of animals are knowledgeable of normal behavior patterns of the species with which they are working, and are able to recognize changes from such normal patterns. General signs of pain can vary from species to species. The Laboratory Animal Program (LAP) will provide those with a need or interest additional information and a chart detailing species specific behavioral signs of pain upon request. If an animal is exhibiting pain or distress it may require pain relief (administration of an analgesic) as described in the animal care and use protocol or need veterinary attention. The more common and generic signs of pain and distress / changes from normal behavior are listed below to assist personnel in making a decision as to whether or not intervention is needed. Behavioral signs that should serve as criteria for administering an analgesic or seeking veterinary care can include the following: Guarding or protecting an affected area (e.g., surgical incision, implant site) Squeaking, squealing, crying out, grunting, growling, hissing, teeth grinding, whimpering or other forms of vocalization Change in posture or an abnormal posture such as hunching, huddling, crouching, being stiff or rigid, abdomen tucked, head down, recumbent Rough looking hair coat due to decreased or lack of grooming activity Self mutilation / attraction to area of pain as evidenced by licking, biting, scratching Change in personality such as being docile or aggressive, anxious, dull, depressed, reclusive Restlessness; frequent changing of positions such as repeatedly lying down and getting up (in large domestic species) or pacing Decreased activity, reluctance to move or other changes in locomotion Isolation from group Loss of appetite Physiologic changes may include an abnormal or increased respiratory pattern, fluctuation in body temperature, weight loss and dehydration. It should also be remembered that animals experiencing mild to moderate pain might not display any signs of pain (i.e., natural prey response or reluctance to make its vulnerability known). A very helpful resource recommended by LAP is titled Pain Assessment, Alleviation and Avoidance in Laboratory Animals and provides information on pain assessment and management specifically for laboratory animals. Topics covered include: animals and their response to pain; occasions when pain can occur; progress in pain assessment; and anesthesia and analgesia. This fact sheet is available via the Internet through the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANXCCART), and is authored by Paul Fleckness, University of Newcastle, UK. This article can also be obtained by contacting the LAP. Additional information on pain relief is available from the LAP veterinarians and other references available at the LAP office include (some with clickable links): Assessment of Pain in Laboratory Animals (French et al, 2000) Recognizing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals ILAR Journal, Vol. 41 (2), 2000) Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals, Committee on Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals. (National Research Council. 1992) Definition of Pain and Distress and Reporting Requirements for laboratory Animals (National Research Council Workshop, 2000) Monograph: Pain in Animals (Short 1997) Animal Pain (Short 1992) Other appropriate references are also available through the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine Library. 5
PILOT STUDIES This article is not about how to land your airplane in the Hudson River in an emergency. What it addresses is doing some preliminary studies to determine if your absolutely brilliant idea might actually work and serve as the basis for a larger and more complete study. However, a P.I. cannot attempt to do something new simply because he or she has a protocol in place that permits the use of animals in research. These protocols are approved for specific purposes, studies, techniques and species. They do not cover pilot studies. However, PACUC is very willing to review a new protocol that may use only a few animals in a proof of concept mode. If the experiment works, fine. Expand it to a larger study. If not, then, while disappointing, at least the studies were properly covered, and the investigator is in compliance with federal regulations and Purdue s accreditation by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. Often as a study progresses, one might want to determine if a new or different drug, chemical, device, treatment, test article, testing schedule, etc. might work better than the current one. It is tempting to make a change in an existing study as just a pilot study without submitting an amendment. No, an amendment or new protocol is needed for the pilot study. There is no such thing as a pilot study that is not included in an approved protocol or an approved amendment. What this means is that you cannot conduct a study that has not been reviewed simply because 1) it will only take a few animals to see if this thing might work, 2) you don t want to wait because the idea is exciting and you are ready to do it now, or 3) nobody will find out about it anyway. PACUC members work very hard to review and approve new protocols and amendments as rapidly as possible. They realize that what is proposed may be a very simple pilot study, but animal welfare and protocol compliance are still of high concern. One last point. On occasion, in order to conduct preliminary experiments, an investigator will submit an amendment that is totally different from an already approved protocol with a different species, different techniques, different endpoints, different goals, different surgeries, etc. In this case, it is far better, and ultimately faster, to simply write up a new protocol. If you have questions on which to do, please call the PACUC office. Gary P. Carlson PACUC Chair Upcoming PACUC Meetings Meeting Date Deadline for Protocol Submission March 11 Past April 15 March 23 May 20 April 27 June 17 May 25 6