Rodent Health Surveillance Program

General Information:

Several infectious agents have been shown to cause disease and interfere with research in laboratory rodents. Many of these agents can change research results without overt signs of disease in the experimental animals. Although commercial vendors have eliminated most of these agents from their colonies, wild rodents remain a source of infection in the environment and can contaminate research colonies. Rodents obtained from noncommercial sources are also a common source of contamination.

Laboratory Animal Medical Services requires that all investigators house their animals in micro-isolator cages and use barrier techniques when handling their rodents in any way. Experience has shown that having a strong barrier to contamination at the cage level is the best method to prevent infection. Protective clothing, the use of laminar flow hoods, and the quarantine and testing of rodents from noncommercial sources are also essential to prevent contamination. Laboratory Animal Medical Services maintains an ongoing program to monitor rodent colonies for infectious pathogens. Laboratory Animal Medical Services veterinarians supervise the program and inform the investigators of any contamination issues.

Number of Animals to Test:

In conventionally housed colonies, two animals are tested for each room, regardless of the number of investigators sharing the room or the number of cages in the room. For PIV and SMI housed colonies, two animals are tested for each PI per rack (i.e. two animals per investigator per rack).

Sentinel Animals:

Sentinel animals are purchased from approved vendors only. ICR mice, Sprague Dawley rats and Golden Syrian hamsters are used for herd health surveillance. LAMS RVT in charge of quality control orders sentinel animals as needed. 1-2 mice from each box are screened for pathogens. 1-2 rats, male and/or female are screened for pathogens. When possible, single animals from each box will be used in order to keep sentinels paired (i.e. 2 per cage). All sentinel animals have comprehensive serological testing. QC sentinels assigned to the transgenic mouse barrier facility, CVC 920 and 924 are tested for Helicobacter spp. prior to seeding. All tests must be negative in order to use the animals from the shipment as sentinels.

Method of Exposure:

Sentinels are housed under the same conditions as the investigators’ animals. Mice are handled under a laminar flow hood during the exposure period. In performing a bedding transfer, dirty bedding is transferred from each of the investigators’ cages to the sentinel cage for a minimum of three bedding changes. The sentinel animals incubate for three weeks after the third bedding transfer. This allows the sentinel animals time to develop antibodies. LAMS RVT in charge of QC coordinates submission of the sentinel animals and processing for sample collection with LAMS husbandry staff.

Sample Collection and Testing:

LAMS RVT in charge of QC collects the necessary samples. Endoparasite and ectoparasite testing is performed by the examination of cecum/colon contents and pelt samples from the lower lumbar and cervical regions of the animal. Blood is collected from both animals and combined into two serum separator vials. One vial is sent to an outside diagnostic laboratory and the other is saved or banked at UC. Once per year, approximately 5% of the total numbers of mice used as sentinels are sent to pathology. The following list contains information on serological profile testing on all sentinels:

Mice: Comprehensive/Major Mouse Profile

All mouse colonies are tested at least yearly for the following infectious agents:

Cilia-associated respiratory bacillus
Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer’s Disease)
Ectromelia
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Endo/Ectoparasites
Hantavirus
K Virus
Lymphocytic choriomenengitis virus
Mouse Parvovirus Panel
Mouse adenovirus (MAD-1 and Mad-2)
Mouse cytomegalovirus
Mouse hepatitis virus
Mouse thymic virus
Mycoplasma pulmonis
Pneumonia virus of mice
Polyoma virus
Reovirus 3
Sendai virus
Theiler‘s virus (GD7)

Mice: Quarterly/Minor Profile

All mouse colonies are tested at least quarterly for the following infectious agents:

Mouse hepatitis virus
Mycoplasma sp.
Sendai virus
Mouse Parvovirus Panel
Endo/Ectoparasites

Rats: Comprehensive/Major Profile

All rat colonies are tested yearly for the following infectious agents:

Cilia-associated respiratory bacillus
Endo/Ectoparasites
Hantavius
Lymphocytic chiomenengitis virus
Mouse adenovirus (MAD-1)
Mycoplasma sp.
Pneumonia virus of mice
Rat parvovirus
Reovirus 3
Sendai virus
Sialodacryoadentitis virus (Corona virus)
Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer’s Disease)

Rats: Quarterly/Minor Profile

All rat colonies are tested at least quarterly for the following infectious agents:

Endo/Ectoparasites
Sendai virus
Sialodacryoadenitis virus (Corona virus)
Mycoplasma pulmonis

Guinea Pigs: Comprehensive/Major Profile

All guinea pig colonies are test yearly for the following infectious agents:

Colstridium piliforme
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Endo/Ectoparasites
Guinea pig cytomegalovirus
Lymphocytic shoriomenengitis virus
Pneumonia virus of mice
Reovirus 3
Sendai virus
Simian virus 5

Guinea Pigs: Quarterly/Minor Profile

All guinea pig colonies are tested at least quarterly for the following infectious agents:

Endo/Ectoparasites
Sendai virus

Hamsters: Comprehensive/Major Profile

All hamster colonies are tested on a yearly basis for:

Colstridium piliforme
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Lymphocytic choriomenegitis virus
Pneumonia virus of mice
Reovirus 3
Sendai virus
Simian virus 5

Reporting of test results:

All test results are reported to the LAMS veterinarians as they are received. LAMS RVT in charge of QC maintains a database of the test results and makes them available to all investigators upon request. Clean up of any contaminated area is coordinated by LAMS veterinarians. LAMS veterinarians work with investigators desiring more frequent or more comprehensive testing on an individual basis.