zotc 119 ppt 5 hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit

free of all organisms including those normally found in the gut

germ free or axenic

contain 1 or few non-pathogenic microorganisms

gnotobiotic or defined flora

contain specifically defined microorganisms

specific pathogen free (SPF)

colonized with diverse and largely undefined microbiome

conventional

housing/caging

• safe - no sharp edges or protrusions

• meet the minimum space requirement

• meet the basic physical, physiological and behavioral needs of the animals

• provide enrichment

• accounts for social needs

• facilitate feeding and waste removal

material for good housing/caging

• durable, non-toxic, corrosion resistant

• withstand cleaning and disinfection

most commonly used and durable material for housing

stainless steel

• transparent, autoclavable, durable

• autoclaving temp: 120°C

• max temp of sterilization: 138°C

• cannot be autoclaved with soiled litter

Polycarbonate (PC)

• transparent, autoclavable, durable

• lifetime: 3x longer, higher cost

• autoclaving temp: 134°C

• max temp of sterilization: 165°C

• can be autoclaved with soiled litter

Polysulfonate (PSU)

cons of PSU over PC

3x longer lifetime, can be autoclaved with soiled litter

cage size/ space requirement for hamsters and guinea pigs

cage size/ space requirement for rabbit individually weaned and females with litters

shoebox cage type

suspended cage type

metabolic cages

individually-ventilated cages

integrated cage type

self-contained removable cage type

modular cage type

group housing

floor area for weaning to 7 weeks old

800 cm² floor area/animal

floor area for 7 to 10 weeks old

1200 cm² floor area/animal

for tops and walls

• solid or mesh

• allow proper ventilation and observation

flooring must be

• solid, perforated, slatted and wire grids

• slip-resistant

• appropriate spacing and size of holes and slats (0.5-0.7 in)

beddings must be

• allow species-specific behavior

• facilitates thermoregulation

• provides comfort

• low potential toxicity

• free of dust, microbial organisms or parasitic contamination

• absorbs urine and feces

• smell should not alter species-specific behavior

• may be in direct contact with the animals or in the bottom of the cage

type of beddings

• paper pellets

• shredded paper

• straw pellets

• straw

• sawdust

• wood shavings

adv and disadv of sawdust/softwood shavings

adv - cheap, absorbent, eco-friendly

disadv - pine and cedar oils can cause hepatic problems. dust can cause respiratory problems

adv and disadv of paper pellets

adv - dust-free, eco-friendly, absorbent

disadv - soiled easily, expensive, ingestion problems

adv and disadv of paper shreddings

adv - absorbent, less dust, eco-friendly

disadv - soiled easily, more expensive than sawdust’shavings, ingestion problems

adv and disadv of pelleted straw

adv - comfortable, safe when ingested, dust-free, absorbent

disadv - expensive, ingestion problems

adv and disadv of straw

adv - readily available in large quantities, cheap

disadv - sharp edge can cause injury, soiled easily

J-type feeder, 3-4 inches off the floor

rubber stopper

slipper tubes

plastic bottles

nameplate holder

enhance well-being by providing animals with sensory and motor stimulation thus promoting species-specific behaviour and psychological well-being

• influence animal phenotype and experimental outcome

enrichment

physical enrichment

enclosure complexity, nesting material, sensory enrichment, nutritional enrichment

social enrichment

contact vs non-contact (group caging, harem mixed groups)

sensory enrichment

soft background sound to mask loud noises

enrichment for hamster

• fruits and vegetables

• sunflower seeds

• cardboard house

• cardboard tunnel

• nesting, nesting cup

• cyclone chew

• crawl ball

what should be avoided for guinea pig housing

• solitary

• >2 males

enrichment for rabbit

• rattles

• dumbbells

• ball

• hut

• alfalfa cubes

• fruit-flavored gnawing treats

microenvironment vs macroenvironment

micro - high temp, humidity, and gases of particulate matter

macro - high lighting

refers to the ambient air temperature. measured by thermometer freely exposed to the air but shielded from radiation and moisture

• generally should be set below the animals’ LCT

dry-bulb temperature

metabolic heat production = evaporative heat loss mechanism

• lower and upper critical temperatures (LCT & UCT)

thermoneutral zone (TNZ)

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recommended dry-bulb macroenvironmental temperature and humidity

factors affecting temperature and humidity

1. house design

2. construction materials

3. enrichment devices - shelters and nesting materials

4. filter tops

5. animal-related factors - age, BW, sex

6. type and frequency of contact bedding changes

fresh air changes per hour

• 10-15 (ILAR< 2011)

• 15-20 (European Commission, 2007)

recommended room air supply should be

100% fresh air with no recirculation

recycled air should be filtered ___

85--95% with efficient filters to remove airborne particles

factors affecting ventilation

1. room dimensions

2. type of primary enclosure

3. enrichment devices - shelters and nesting materials

4. animal-related factors - age, BW, sex

5. type and frequency of contact bedding changes

6. odor control, allergen control and particle generation

T/F:

Natural lighting from external windows are recommended as source of light

FALSE. NOT recommended

factors affecting illumination

pigmentation of the animal,

body temp

hormonal status

age, species, sex, stock/strain

aspects to consider for illumination/lighting

1. photo-intensity

2. photoperiod

3. spectral composition

recommended photo-intensity

130-325 lux (12-30 ft candles)

if the photo-intensity is >325 lux, it will lead to

phototoxic retinopathy

affects vaginal opening, ovarian and uterine weights, estrus cycle length and pre-weaning mortality

• measured in Lux

photo-intensity

animals with ____ are more susceptible of photo-intensity

non-pigmented iris

illumination of 1 meter sq. surface that is 1 meter away from a single candle

Lux

day length or the period of daily illumination received by the animal

• critical regulator of reproductive behavior

photoperiod

photoperiod for hamster, guinea pig, rabbit (L - light, D - dark)

hamster: 12hr L:12hr D

• 14hr L: 10hr D

guinea pigs: 12hr L: 12 hr D

• 14hr L: 10hr D

rabbit: 12hr L: 12hr D

• 16hr L: 8hr D

nocturnal; brief periods of activity during daytime

hamsters

nocturnal; wild type are crepuscular

rabbits (wild rabbits - crepuscular)

no distinct circadian rhythm; active > 20 hours/day if house singly; wild guinea pigs are crepuscular

guinea pigs

wavelength of the light should stimulate the natural wavelength of the sunlight

spectral quality

incandescent light source

red ~700 nm

fluorescent light source

violet ~400 nm

quartz halogen light source

red ~600-900 nm

light emitting diodes

ultraviolet-infrared ~365-880 nm

wavelength for h, gp, r

300-2000 nm (450-700 nm)

factors affecting illumination

1. light intensity and wavelength

2. animals’ exposure to light

3. animal pigmentation

4. circadian rhythm

5. animal-related factors - strain, size, body temp, age, sex

6. hormonal status

noise a hamster can detect?

<85 dB

noise a guinea pig can detect?

0.1-40kHz (0.2-2kHz @ 97dB)

0.32-50kHz @ 60dB

4-28kHz @ 10 dB

noise a rabbit can detect?

0.075-50 kHz (2-9kHz)

<85

rabbits’ constant exposure to white noise leads to

increase in size of adrenal gland

optimum condition for audiogenic seizure production

10-20kHz @90-120 dB

• standard diets in most laboratory facilities

• produced from natural ingredients

• pelleted

• closed formulas/propriety

chow diets

• combination of natural ingredients,

• pure nutrients and ingredients of varying degrees of refinement

• may not be pelleted

• open formulas

purified or semi-purified diets

• softer composition

• provide greater availability of nutrients

• increase wastage

• high production cost

extruded diets

feeding regimen of the 3

h and gp - ad libitum

r - once or twice a day for adult (90-120 g sid)

crude protein, crude fiber and fat of the 3

Extensive calcification of the soft tissues, rickets (broadened cartilage plates and hypoplasia of incisors

calcium and vit D

Reproductive disorders i.e. fetal resorption, abortion, stillbirths & hydrocephalus, poor growth, eye abnormalities

vit A

Muscular dystrophy, abortion, stillbirths, neonatal death, testicular degeneration

vit E and selenium

Poor skin, poor hair coat, weight loss, stiffness, swollen joints, paralysis, poor bone and tooth development

vit C

Tremor, imbalance

B1 thiamine

Corneal vascularization

B2 riboflavin

Anemia, diarrhea

niacin

Anemia, diarrhea

B6 Pyridoxine

Anorexia, weight loss, intestinal hemorrhage, abortion

Pantothenic acid

more water should be provided on

growers, lactating, pregnant, fed with high fiber diet

chemical waste pail

radioactive solid waste container

radioactive liquid waste container

risk group 2 biologically contaminated solids

biohazard waste pail

biologically contaminated solids only

biohazard bag

needles, syringes, lancets, blades, etc

sharps containers