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Laboratory Animal Science (Subject) / Housing (Lesson)
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- What is recommended and what is required for things entering the housing system? Primarily:Harmless for the animals:No pain, no distress= minimum requirement Additionally:Contribution to the welfare and well-being of the animal= Enhancement of comfort
- Housing-what do you need to consider? Aspects of animal welfare and health Technical aspects Aspects of microbiology and hygiene Aspects of use and management Barrier systemsRoom barriersIndividually ventilated cages (IVC)Isolator or open systems are distinguished
- requirements for animal room construction Material for building: reinforced concreteImportant: Reduction or inactivation of airborneWalls covered by synthetic epoxy resinFloor coating chemically resistant and poor sound conductor
- Lighting of animal rooms Lighting of working places should have an intensity of 500 Lux animal husbandry: 50 % of this value is sufficient During long-term housing of albino animals including breeding, the lightintensity should not exceed- 60 Lux within the cages(e.g.covering of above cages could be necessary). Exceeding intensities may lead to pathological abnormalities of theretina and endocrine changes of organs. Dark/light cylce: 12h/12h lights on: 5.30 am – 5.30 pm off: 5.30 pm – 5.30 am
- Minimum breeding space for mice 330 cm^2, maximum number of animals depends on type of cage and animal weight Social animals should be kept as groups as far as the groups arestable and harmonic. Nevertheless, in male mice, adult hamstersor gerbils severe aggression may occur among group members.These animals may also be housed individually if otherwiseharmful consequences are to be expected.
- In which cases is individualised housing necessary? Social animals should be kept as groups as far as the groups arestable and harmonic. in male mice, adult hamsters or gerbils severe aggression may occur among group membersThese animals may also be housed individually if otherwise harmful consequences are to be expected. or if necessary for experiment: indirect calorimetry or individual ventilation cabinet or gnotobiontic animals
- Exam: Name pros and cons of - individually ventilated cages (IVC) Pro: virus transmission among animals will not take place --> improves disease control humans are less exposed to animal allergens dust particle production is reduced less space requirements as opposed to open systems, as air movement between rows needn't be considered Con can be solidary confindement: social animals cannot interact and IVCs reduce sensory input from the outside eg. communication by odor cues - may affect behavior and wellbeing requires enough technical staff to supervise the entire room
- Levels of microbiological quality in animal facilities (K) 1. Total absence of germs: Gnotobiotics (Isolators)2. Defined association with germs: Gnotobiotics (Isolators)3. Absence of defined germ: SPF; specified pathogen free (barrier maintaining)4. Non-defined milieu (open husbandry) Monitoring:1. Absence of all germs2. Presence of defined germs, absence of all other germs3. Absence of defined germs (SPF: specified pathogen free)4. No clinical signs
- Examples for enrichment and criteria for selection (K) Mouse house/dark hiding places materials for building nests bedding, paper roll toys criteria: Components: Material, compositionStandardisation: Repeatibility, influence of strain, sex, and ageApplication: use by the animal, human viewMonitoring: obeservation of the animals, clinical controlInteraction with experimental results: standardisation
- Name materials used for bedding Material StructureSoft wood FiberCellulose Granules fine, medium, coarseStarch ChipsCotton wool Tissues --> fine/medium/coarse
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- How is drinking water treated? Acidification (hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid): pH 2.5 – 3.0 Deinonisation Filtration Sterilisation
- How is food uptake and room temperature (RT) linked? mice warm each other -> single animal: more food uptake, several animals: less food uptake --> with increasing temperature: less food uptake May confound metabolic studies