ALAT Chapter 13 Colony Health surveillance Good research depends on the availability of healthy research animals. Judy Hickman-Davis, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
Health Surveillance When does health surveillance begin? Before the animals are received Procurement form and health reports Quarantine and re-evaluation Specific Selected vendors LAT receiving Follow up schedule PE, vaccinations, testing, treatment
Animal Observation What is the most important factor in health surveillance and disease prevention? Husbandry LAT is the first line of defense Early detection is ESSENTIAL!
Animal Observation General Body Condition Stunted growth Weight loss Swelling (lumps, growths) Abnormal posture or movement Head tilt Circling/spinning Paralysis Behavior Suddenly aggressive, quiet, loss of interest
Animal Observation Condition of skin, Fur or Feathers Dirty, unkempt or ruffled fur One of the most reliable signs of illness Piloerection Alopecia Red, swollen or irritated skin Pruritus Bleeding
Animal Observation Mucus Membranes Pale Blue Anemia or lack of iron Cyanosis Bleeding Swollen Jaws and Teeth Malocclusion Rodents and rabbits Broken or missing
Animal Observation Perineal Area Vaginal discharge Prolapse Rectum Vagina Uterus Diarrhea Feces or blood staining Constipation Inadequate feed or water intake
Animal Observation Tail Lesions Trauma, infection, cancer Sloughing Degloving Lost tip Amputation, trauma Feet Ulceration inflammation Lameness
Animal Observation Respiration Dyspnea Coughing Sneezing Rapid Shallow Nasal discharge
Cause of Disease Definition Any alteration of the normal anatomy of physiology Malnutrition Infection Parasites Environment Contaminant
Malnutrition Water Fat Carbohydrates Proteins Vitamins Vitamin C Minerals Experimental? Be aware of clinical signs expected
Causes Bacteria Virus Fungi Infection Nonpathogenic Species specific Route Air Water Feed Feces
Infection Submicroscopic, Microscopic, Macroscopic Virus Submicroscopic Bacteria Microscopic Fungus Microscopic (Macroscopic??) Protozoa Microscopic Helminth Macroscopic Arthropod Macroscopic
Definition Parasites Organism that lives on or in an animal and draws nourishment from the host Protozoa Single cell Helminthe Worms Arthropods Lice, ticks, fleas Subclinical Altered data
Environment Temperature Noise Humidity Overcrowding Lighting Ventilation Vibration Avoid loud noises and music
Air Water Bedding Contaminants Cedar ( liver enzymes) ONLY Hardwood, paper or corncob Mold! Other Causes Degenerative changes (aging, cancer) Allergy
Transmission Vector Organism that transmits a pathogen but does not cause disease itself Fomite Nonliving items or materials that transmit an infectious organism Direct contact Indirect contact (stable in the environment)
Transmission Aerosol Fecal-oral Mucous membranes Skin (puncture or wounds) High Quality Husbandry!! SOPs PPE Designated facility workflow Sanitation (What water temperature?) 180 F (82 C)
Transmission Sterile food HEPA filters Autoclave Room air pressure Positive or Negative?? Surgery Quarantine Biohazard
Sentinel Animals To monitor the health status in each colony animal room, isolator, and quarantine group. Indicated by cage card Rotated on a schedule Necropsied or test (q 3 months) Direct Indirect Time Expense
Sentinel Animals Placed in a specific location on the rack On schedule According to the SOP May miss some pathogens Mites Aerosol Large animals Tested individually according to signs of disease
Rodent Health Surveillance Viral and Bacterial Pathogens RAT Sendai PVM SDAV KRV H-1 RPV RMV NS-1 REO GDVII RAT LCMV MAV1&2 Hantan M. pulmonis E. cuniculus Carbacillus MOUSE Sendai PVM MHV MVM MPV1 MPV2 NS-1 GDVII REO LCMV Pasturella Pseudomonas H. hepaticus H. bilis MOUSE EDIM ECTRO MAV1&2 MCMV K POLY Hantan M. pulmonis E. cuniculus Carbacillus MTLV
OSU Rodent Health Monitoring Room Entry Housing requirements Disease Status 1 2 3 4 5 sterile, ventilated micro-isolator cages, hood, sterile supplies sterile, ventilated micro-isolator cages, hood, sterile supplies barrier ventilated micro-isolator or static cages, hood barrier ventilated micro-isolator or static cages, hood conventional housing & techniques Negative for viral & bacterial agents, parasitology and Helicobacter Negative for viral & bacterial agents, parasitology; Helicobacter positive Negative for viral agents and Helicobacter Negative for viral agents, unknown Helicobacter status Negative for viral agents, unknown Helicobacter status 6 Housing varies as listed in room Positive for viral, bacterial agent or parasitology
Diagnosis Definition Investigation of the nature and cause of disease History PE Testing Culture (urine, feces, wound) Evaluate blood cells Chemicals in the blood Serum chemistry
Detecting Parasites Internal Cellophane tape test Fecal float External Cellophane tape test Fur pluck (most common test) Direct exam (fleas, lice) Regular testing
Vaccinations Large animals Ferrets Canine distemper Cats? Dogs? Long term Research requirements Requires consultation with investigators
Tuberculosis testing in NHP Regular screening Highly contagious Where does it come from? Human exposure Rapid spread Personnel at risk Serious, rapid progressive illness in NHP
Tuberculosis testing in NHP Tuberculin Noninfectious Purified protein Frequency? Initial: within 7 days Twice more at 2 week intervals (total 3 in quarantine) Every 6 months Staff
Tuberculosis testing in NHP Eyelid Read? 48 or 72 hours Six possible readings Isolation (quarantine) Animals suspected or known to be carrying infectious disease Protect the colony from disease transmission Negative pressure air supply Husbandry last
Tuberculin Test Reaction Grades Intradermal intrapalpebral test 0 1 2 3 4 5 No reaction observed Bruise; extravasation of blood in eyelid from injection Varying degrees of redness without swelling Varying degrees of redness with minimal or slight swelling Obvious swelling with drooping of lid Swelling and/or necrosis with eyelid closed
What Grade?
Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities AALAT Chapter 14 Euthanasia
Euthanatos AVMA Guidelines Good death Ending animal life with minimal pain and distress Rapid loss of consciousness Cardiac arrest Respiratory arrest Loss of brain function Responsibility of the institution to train personnel Humane proficient
Methods Categorized by species Acceptable Used alone consistently humane Conditionally acceptable Require certain conditions to be met (weight, specialized equipment) Unacceptable Inhumane Should not be used
Animal Behavior Avoid Distress Fear Anxiety Gentle restraint Careful handling Sedation Decreased blood pressure Delay onset of death by injectable
Human Behavior Attachment to the animals Human-research animal bond Positive animal quality of life Euthanasia related stress to care takers Psychological depression Alienation Job dissatisfaction Careless/callous animal handling
Human Behavior Mechanisms for coping Training in grief coping skills Rotation of duties Peer support Professional support Education Time off
Inhaled Agents Purified gas Methods Slow exposure (gentle death takes longer) No leaks Neonatal animals may be resistant Minimize noise Groups Same species Compatible Not crowded Diving birds and mammals, reptiles, amphibians take longer
Anesthetics Inhaled Agents ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS for small animals (<7 kg) Order of preference Isoflurane Halothane Sevoflurane Enflurane Methoxyflurane Desflurane Nitrous oxide never alone
Inhaled Agents Anesthetic delivery Open drop Face mask Chamber Vaporizer Vapors only (liquid is irritating) Personnel exposure
CO Inhaled Agents Compressed gas cylinder with regulator Minimally distressful Aversive to rodents Hazardous to personnel!! Training Explosive (electrical outlets explosion proof) Chamber High quality Well ventilated Monitors present
N 2 and Ar Inhaled Agents Compressed gas Minimal hazard to personnel Distressing to some species Revive with O 2 CONDITIONS Some species O 2 < 2% Regulated flow Heavily sedated animals
Inhaled Agents CO 2 Compressed gas (NOT dry ice) Regulated flow Pressure reducing regulator Displace 10-30% chamber volume per min Maintain flow for 1 min after death Heavy, animals may climb above Prefilling is UNACCEPTABLE Must confirm
Noninhaled Agents Routes of Administration Immersion Topical Injection (Speed, fastest to slowest) GENTLE IC IV IP IM SQ
Noninhaled Agents Barbituric Acid Derivatives ACCEPTABLE Depress the CNS Cardiac arrest Fast Regulated DEA Careful with carcass disposal Pentobarbital Combinations ACCEPTABLE Combined with local anesthetic Neuromuscular agents NOT acceptable
Tributame Noninhaled Agents ACCEPTABLE for dogs Embutramide, chloroquine phosphate and lidocaine IV only Not available in all countries T-61 ACCEPTABLE Not available in the US Nonbarbiturate, nonnarcotic, curariform
Noninhaled Agents Dissociative Agents/Alpha-2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonists ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Approved euthanasia drugs unavailable As a secondary method KCL and MgSO 4 ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Unconscious or under general anesthesia IV or IC Adjunctive method of euthanasia
Noninhaled Agents Chloral Hydrate/Alpha Chloralose NOT ACCEPTABLE Alcohols Aesthetically objectionable Previously acceptable for horses, ruminants and swine ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Avertin (tribromoethanol) Prepared and stored appropriately Tricaine Methanesulfonate ACCEPTABLE Fish, some amphibians, reptiles MUST be buffered Protect from light, stored 4 or -20 F, remade monthly
Noninhaled Agents Benzocaine Hydrocloride ACCEPTABLE Amphibians and fish Agents used for fish ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Clove oil, isoeugenol, eugenol, 2-phenoxyethanol, quinaldine sulfate, metomidate and sodium hypochlorite UNACCEPTABLE Strychnine Nicotine Caffeine Cleaning agents Solvents Pesticides Disinfectants
Physical Methods Penetrating Captive Bolt ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Placement and restraint important Nonpenetrating Captive Bolt ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Suckling pigs, neonatal ruminants, turkeys Stun Blunt Force Trauma ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Neonatal animals Gunshot ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Risky!
Physical Methods Cervical Dislocation ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Decapitation Mice, rats <200g, rabbits and some birds ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Rodents, small rabbits, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles SHARP! Electrocution ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Kill Traps Cattle, sheep, swine and poultry NOT acceptable to tail, head, foot OR head to wet metal plate ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Wildlife (when other methods have failed) Checked daily Approved by the International Org for Standards
Physical Methods Maceration ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Day old poultry and embryonated eggs Focused Beam Microwave Irradiation ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Fix brain metabolites Small laboratory rodents Thoracic Compression ACCEPTABLE WITH CONDITIONS Wildlife biologist Small birds and mammals that are anesthetized Adjunctive methods Applied when animals are anesthetized or unconscious Decapitation Bilateral thoracotomy Exsanguination
Physical Methods UNACCEPTABLE Air embolism Burning Decompression Drowning Exsanguination Hypothermia Rapid freezing Smothering Thoracic compression was previously approved as conditionally acceptable for free range birds
Laboratory Animal Euthanasia Research methods must be considered Approved by the IACUC Familiar with the species Well trained (for ANY method) Consider aesthetics Operator safety Economy
Disposal According to state and federal regulations Pentobarb and barbiturates are poisonous REMEMBER death must be confirmed! Lack of pulse Breathing Corneal reflex Toe pinch Mucous membranes Rigor mortis
Questions??