Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996) / Chapter Skim
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2 Animal Environment, Housing, and Management
2 Animal Environment, Housing, and Management
Pages 21-55
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From page 21... ...
Specific operating practices depend on many factors that are peculiar to individual institutions and situations. Well-trained and motivated personnel can often ensure highquality animal care, even in institutions with less than optimal physical plants or equipment.
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From page 22... ...
t. Although the microenvironment and the macroenvironment are linked by ventilation between the primary and secondary enclosures, the environment in the primary enclosure can be quite different from the environment in the secondary enclosure and is affected by the design of both enclosures.
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provides the limits of an animal's immediate environment. Acceptable primary enclosures · Allow for the normal physiologic and behavioral needs of the animals, including urination and defecation, maintenance of body temperature, normal movement and postural adjustments, and, where indicated, reproduction.
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From page 24... ...
Vinyl-coated flooring is often used for other species, such as dogs and nonhuman primates. IACUC review of this aspect of the animal care program should ensure that caging enhances animal well-being consistent with good sanitation and the requirements of the research project.
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From page 25... ...
Space Recommendations An animal's space needs are complex, and consideration of only the animal's body weight or surface area is insufficient. Therefore, the space recommendations presented here are based on professional judgment and experience and should be considered as recommendations of appropriate cage sizes for animals under conditions commonly found in laboratory animal housing facilities.
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From page 26... ...
Conversely, some animals, such as various species of nonhuman primates, might need additional individual space when group-housed to reduce the level of aggression. The height of enclosures can be important in the normal behavior and postural adjustments of some species.
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From page 27... ...
If they are housed individually or exceed the weights in the table, animals might require more space. Table 2.2 lists recommended space allocations for other wonton laboratory animals.
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h Group 1Up to 2010.0 SS Group 2Up to 35lS.O 60 Group 3>35i25.0 84 Pigeon; 0.8 QuailJ 0.25 Chickensl<0.250.25 Up to O.SO.SO Up to 1.S1.00 Up to 3.02.00 >3.0e>3 .00 Table 2.3 lists recommended space allocations for farm animals commonly used in a laboratory setting. When animals, housed individually or in groups, exceed the weights in the table, more space might be required.
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From page 29... ...
Environmental temperature and relative humidity can depend on husbandry and housing design and can differ considerably between primary and secondary enclosures. Factors that contribute to variation in temperature and humidity include housing material and construction, use of filter tops, number of animals per cage, forced ventilation of the enclosures, frequency of bedding changes, and bedding type.
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From page 30... ...
The temperature ranges in Table 2.4 might not apply to captive wild animals, wild animals maintained in their natural environment, or animals in outdoor enclosures that are given the opportunity to adapt by being exposed to seasonal changes in ambient conditions. Ventilation The purposes of ventilation are to supply adequate oxygen; remove thermal loads caused by animal respiration, lights, and equipment; dilute gaseous and particulate contaminants; adjust the moisture content of room air; and, where
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From page 31... ...
The relationship of the type and location of supply-air diffusers and exhaust vents to the number, arrangement, location, and type of primary enclosures in a room or other secondary enclosure affects how well the primary enclosures are ventilated and should therefore be considered. The use of computer modeling for assessing those factors in relation to heat loading and air diffusion patterns can be helpful in optimizing ventilation of primary and
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From page 32... ...
The guideline of 10-15 fresh-air changes per hour has been used for secondary enclosures for many years and is considered an acceptable general standard. Although it is effective in many animal-housing settings, the guideline does not take into account the range of possible heat loads; the species, size, and number of animals involved; the type of bedding or frequency of cage-changing; the room dimensions; or the efficiency of air distribution from the secondary to the primary enclosure.
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From page 33... ...
can effectively address the ventilation requirements of animals without the need to ventilate secondary enclosures to the extent that would be needed if there were no independent primary-enclosure ventilation. Nevertheless, a secondary enclosure should be ventilated sufficiently to provide for the heat loads released from its primary enclosures.
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From page 34... ...
Frequent bedding changes and cage-cleaning coupled with husbandry practices, such as low animal density within the room and lower environmental temperature and humidity, can also reduce the concentration of toxic or odor-causing gases in animal-room air. Treatment of recycled air for either particulate or gaseous contaminants is expensive and can be rendered ineffective by improper or insufficient maintenance of filtration systems.
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From page 35... ...
The most commonly used laboratory animals are nocturnal. Because the albino rat is more susceptible to phototoxic retinopathy than other species, it has been used as a basis for establishing room illumination levels (Lanum 19791.
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From page 36... ...
Radios, alarms, and other sound generators should not be used in animal rooms unless they are parts of an approved protocol or an enrichment program. BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT Structural Environment The structural environment consists of components of the primary enclosure-cage furniture, equipment for environmental enrichment, objects for manipulation by the animals, and cage complexities.
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From page 37... ...
Selected publications that describe enrichment strategies for common laboratory animal species are listed in Appendix A and in bibliographies prepared by the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC 1992; NRC In press)
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From page 38... ...
Subcommittees of the National Research Council Committee on Animal Nutrition have prepared comprehensive treatments of the nutrient requirements of laboratory animals (NRC 1977, 1978, 1981a,b, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985a,b, 1986, 1988, 1989a,b, 1994, 1995)
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From page 39... ...
Precautions should be taken if perishable items such as meats, fruits, and vegetables are fed, because storage conditions are potential sources of contamination and can lead to variation in food quality. Contaminants in food can have dramatic effects on biochemical and physiologic processes, even if the contaminants are present in concentrations too low to cause clinical signs of toxicity.
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From page 40... ...
In some species (such as nonhuman primates) and on some occasions, varying nutritionally balanced diets and providing "treats," including fresh vegetables, can be appropriate and improve well-being.
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From page 41... ...
Therefore, appropriate drying times and storage conditions should be used. Bedding should be used in amounts sufficient to keep animals dry between cage changes, and, in the case of small laboratory animals, care should be taken to keep the bedding from coming into contact with the water tube, because such contact could cause leakage of water into the cage.
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From page 42... ...
In some instances, frequent bedding changes are contraindicated, such as during some portions of the prepartum or postpartum period, when pheromones are essential for successful reproduction, or when research objectives do not permit changing the bedding. Cleaning and Disinfection of Primary Enclosures For pens or runs, frequent flushing, with water and periodic use of detergents or disinfectants are usually appropriate to maintain sufficiently clean surfaces.
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From page 43... ...
Primary enclosures can be disinfected with chemicals, hot water, or a combination of both. Washing times and conditions should be sufficient to kill vegeta tive forms of common bacteria and other organisms that are presumed to be controllable by the sanitation program.
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From page 44... ...
Cleaning and Disinfection of Secondary Enclosures All components of the animal facility, including animal rooms and support spaces (such as storage areas, cage-washing facilities, corridors, and procedure rooms) should be cleaned regularly and disinfected as appropriate to the circumstances and at a frequency based on the use of the area and the nature of likely contamination.
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From page 45... ...
For animals in outdoor facilities, consideration should also be given to eliminating or minimizing the potential risk associated with pests and predators. Pesticides can induce toxic effects on research animals and interfere with experimental procedures (Ohio Cooperative Extension Service 1987a,b)
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From page 46... ...
Clinical records for individual animals can also be valuable, especially for dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, and farm animals. They should include pertinent clinical and diagnostic information, date of inoculations, history of surgical procedures and postoperative care, and information on experimental use.
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From page 47... ...
To facilitate direct comparison of research data derived from outbred animals, genetic-management techniques should be used to maintain genetic variability and equalize founder representations (for example, Lacy 1989; Poiley 1960; Williams-Blangero 1991~. Genetic variability can be monitored with computer simulations, biochemical markers, DNA markers, immunologic markers, or quantitative genetic analyses of physiologic variables (MacCluer and others 1986; Williams-Blangero 19931.
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From page 48... ...
1992. Environmental enrichment information resources for nonhuman primates: 1987-1992.
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1972. International standardized nomenclature for outbred stocks of laboratory animals.
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1980. Genetic quality control of laboratory animals with emphasis on genetic monitoring.
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1988. Summary of conclusions reached in workshop and recommendations for lighting animal housing modules used in microgravity
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1975. Influence on pharmacological experiments of chemicals and other factors in diets of laboratory animals.
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Psychological Well-being of Nonhuman Primates. A report of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Committee on Well-being of Nonhuman Primates.
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1976. Environmental and genetic factors affecting response of laboratory animals to drugs.
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From page 55... ...
1991. Recent trends in genetic research on captive and wild nonhuman primate populations.
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