Introduction
The lab runs a sentinel-based health-monitoring program according to the recommendations of FELASA: “The microbiological quality of experimental animals can critically influence animal welfare and the validity and reproducibility of research data. It is therefore important for breeding and experimental facilities to establish a laboratory animal health monitoring (HM) programme as an integrated part of any quality assurance system”. Reference: Lab Anim. 2014 Feb 4;48(3):178-192.
Purposes
- Evaluate the health status of each animal facility
- Detect infectious disease outbreaks
- Prevent disease transmission between colonies / rooms / facilities
Hagit Dafni
Health-monitoring program and health reports
Two sentinels per side of each rack (~ 70 cages) are exposed to soiled bedding for about 5-6 months.
Lab tests are performed on the sentinels quarterly (parasitology, bacteriology, serology, gross necropsy and histopathology).
Health Reports are produced for each room of each animal facility at the end of each test round.
Additional experimental or stock animals are tested as needed (this should be arranged through animal facility staff and veterinarian staff).
Imported strains quarantine (isolation) program
The lab also tests sentinel and sample animals of imported strains (see Animal Import). Introduction of new strains from outside sources holds the greatest risk to established colonies. With the increased exchange of animals between academic institutions the risk becomes intensified because health status, health monitoring and maintenance programs may vary widely between institutions.
A program of incoming rodent quarantine (isolation) seeks to minimize the risk to WIS colonies by excluding specific pathogens, determining the actual health status of incoming animals at the time of arrival, exclude unhealthy animals, identify animals more suitable for rederivation than introduction and thereby protect the health of WIS colonies in general.