LABORATORY ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & MANAGEMENT

inbred strains

what type of strains

• C57BL

• BALB

• AKR

• DBA

• 129S1

• C3H

• AJ

• NOD

• CBA

outbred stocks

what type of stocks

• ICR

• diversity outbred

germ-free or axenic

• Free of all microorganisms including those typically found in the gut

• Maintained in isolators & strict SOP (IVF, embryo transfer, hysterectomy rederivation)

gnotobiotic or defined flora

• Intentionally seeded with 1 or more known non-pathogen or microorganisms

• Maintained in isolators & strict SOP

specific pathogen free (SPF)

Contain specifically defined list of pathogens through routine testing (specific microbiomes, opportunistic bacteria, commensals excluded from them)

conventional

Colonized with a diverse & largely undefined microbiome (containing ~1011 bacteria within the gut alone)

ad libitum (free access)

__ feeding (unless stated in the protocol)

• maintenance diet

• breeders diet

• special diets

different feeds (Nutritional Requirements)

maintenance diet

feeding

• chow diets, for young and adult

breeders diet

feeding

• intended for breeding, inc protein and inc nutrition

special diets

feeding

• Deficient, Low or Rich in CHO, CHON, fat, vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc.

special diets

feeding

• transgenic animals, other term knockouts

transgenic animals

has foreign gene that is intentionally seeded in their genum

malocclusion

dental disorder characterized by improper alignment of the teeth

chow diets

• standard diets in most laboratory facilities

• produced from natural ingredients

• pelleted

• closed formulas/propriety

purified or semi-purified diets

• combination of natural ingredients, pure nutrients and ingredients of varying degrees of refinement

• may not be pelleted

• open formulas

extruded diets

• softer composition, less dense than pellets

• provide greater availability of nutrients

• increase wastage

• high production cost

10-15

normal average feed intake

mice:__

10

normal average feed intake

rat:__

• ad libitum

drinking:

• should be provided __

10% of the BW per 24 hours

drinking:

• fed on dry diets: require ___

• Growers

• Lactating

• Pregnant

• Fed with high fiber diet

more waters should be provided on:

diversity outbred

• hard to trace their origin

• good models

• low reproducible

• Chlorinated tap water

• reverse osmosis

• distilled

• acidification

acceptable waters:

• ceramic bowls

• water bottles with sipper tubes

• automatic watering system

acceptable drinking container:

conventional strains

drinking:

Reverse Osmosis H2O (93-97% of dissolved ionized chemicals removed)

transgenic (KO) animals

drinking:

Ultrapure H2O Autoclaved waterers

drinking H2O system

drinking:

automatic drinking H2O system

10-15

Normal Average Water Intake

mice: __

10-12

Normal Average Water Intake

rat: __

female breeders

breeding:

• Check stage of estrus

• Check period of heat for mating

• Check vaginal cytology

• proestrus

• estrus

• metestrus

• diestrus

four stage of estous in BALB/cByJ mice

• proestrus stage

• 1 day

• vaginal plug

Mating

• Place male and female in a cage (Female should be in ___)

• Allow them to mate in__

• Examine for the presence of ____= indicates female was mated

• Nesting behavior

• Enlarged mammary glands and prominent teats

• Mammary secretions (1-2 days before parturition)

signs of parturition:

5 days

Do not touch pups for the first ___

mother

dam is the __

babies

pups is the ___

21 days of age

Separate offspring from dam at ____

• Use of non-toxic permanent markers (tail, fur, skin) (last about 1-2 days (brand dependent))

• Use of picric acid on fur

identification methods

temporary:____

• Ear punching

• Ear tagging

• Tattooing

• Microchip transponder

identification methods

permanent:____

3-7 days

diluted picric acid generally last about __

2-3 weeks of age

ear punching is done on ___ age

• 0.5 to 2 mm 

• 3mm

ear punching:

• __ to __ notch 

• __ from the edge of the ear pinna

2-3 weeks of age

tattooing done on ___

tattooing

Advantages

• Permanent

• Easily read

• +/- anesthesia

• Numerical and color variation

tattooing

Disadvantages

• Excess ink (mess/contamination)

• Undesired markings

• Potential bleeding, infection or tissue damage

ear tagging

Advantages

• Inexpensive

• No anesthesia needed

ear tagging

Disadvantages

• Potential bleeding

• Variation in technique

• Tissue reactions or infections

• Missing tags

• dermis of tail

• toes

• ears

• foot pad

location of tattooing:

microchip transponder

Advantages

• Accurate

• Neonatal (>10 D) & Adults

• +/- anesthesia

microchip transponder

Disadvantages

• Expensive

• Risk of infection

12×2 mm: animal >50 g

microchip transponder: larger chip ___

6×1 mm: mice

microchip transponder: smaller chip ____

cage cards

identification methods:

abnormal brain development, physiological dysfunction and behavioral disorders

Environments that fail to meet the animals' needs may result in _____.

• polycarbonate

• polypropylene

• polysulfone

list of housing and caging

6 inch and 5 inch

housing and caging MOUSE: floor area and height?

weight: <10

8 inch and 5 inch

housing and caging MOUSE: floor area and height?

weight: up to 15

12 inch and 5 inch

housing and caging MOUSE: floor area and height?

weight: up to 25

at least 15 inch and 5 inch

housing and caging MOUSE: floor area and height?

weight: >25 and female + litter

17 and 7

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: <100

23 and 7

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: up to 200

29 and 7

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: up to 300

40 and 7

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: up to 400

60 and 7

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: up to 500

at least 70

housing and caging RAT: floor area and height?

weight: >500

barbering

a behavior displayed by a animal on itself or other cage mates which involves the plucking of fur, hairs, or whiskers

corn cob

best bedding

rice hull

not recommended bedding

• corn cob

• sterilized paper

• rice hull

• sterile wood shavings

list of bedding

• 1x a week

• yellow plastic bags

• Frequency of changing: at least ___ (or when urea smell is strong)

• Used beddings are be placed on ___ for disposal.

enrichment

• Enhance well-being by providing animals with sensory and motor stimulation, thus, promoting species-specific behavior and psychological well-being

• Can be physical, social, or sensory

• Influence animal phenotype and experimental outcome

ringtail

Low humidity and high temperatures drafts predispose mice/rats to develop a ring-like constriction of skin encircling the tail called____

• 22-26 deg cel

• 30-70%

temperature and humidity:

mice:

Room Temp:  ___

Room humidity:  ___

• 22-26 deg cel

• 40-70%

temperature and humidity:

rat:

Room Temp:  ___

Room humidity:  ___

-20 to 4 deg cel

Animal carcass: stored at __

7 days

quarantine of new animals:

Newly purchased from local vendors: _____

14 days

quarantine of new animals:

Newly purchased from international vendors:  _____