Lab Animal Lecture 1

(T/F) Laboratory animal medicine is a specialized field in lab animal science and is recognized as a specialty w/in vet med

True

What does lab animal medicine emphasize?

Methods to prevent and minimize pain, discomfort, and distress in research animals

What are 4 roles of a vet tech w/in lab animal medicine?

1. Maintenance + accuracy of records

2. Maintenance of healthy animals under supervision of a DVM

3. Monitor and control environment of animals to reduce stress and disease

4. Control undesirable variables that can affect research (noise, lighting, sanitation, feed, schedules)

What is an examples of a specialty w/in NAVTA that vet techs can apply to for lab animal medicine?

Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (ALAVTN)

What does the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act cover?

Created to safeguard and protect consumer health and safety from the sale of dangerous products (enforced by FDA)

• FDA requires animal testing of products when a scientifically valid, alternative testing method is not available

What is the most common lab animal and why?

Mouse (95% of all animals used in research are rats and mice)

Mice have a 98-99% genetic match to humans

What are the primary granting agencies for biomedical research?

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Federal grants for health-related advancement of humans and animals

2. National Science Foundation (NSF)

• Encourages basic research in behavior, math, physics, medicine, biology, and other sciences

• Additional funding available from universities and colleges, state governments, industry, and private foundations

What do grants cover?

Money for the primary scientist or principal investigator’s (PI) and research team’s salaries, supplies, equipment, and purchase and care of animals for 3 years

What is the role of a PI?

Principal investigators are responsible for planning and coordinating all phases of research study

What is IACUC?

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

• Prior to use of animals in research, teaching, or testing, a protocol must be submitted to an institution’s IACUC

  • Justifies the use of vertebrate animals to accomplish study’s aim

  • Details procedures that will be performed

  • Describes how animals will be housed and cared for through project

• Protocol is for 3 years and must be resubmitted for full review every 3 years

What is the AWA and who does it apply to? What does it do? What animals does it apply to?

The Animal Welfare Act

• Applies to animal research institutions, universities, pharaceutical companies and affiliates, zoos, aquariums, animal dealers, animal exhibitors, auctions, etc

• Oversees/ensures the human handling, care, transport and treatment of animals; mandates environmental enrichment per NHP; mandates training of personnel; mandates a DVM be consulted; mandates IACUC; many addendums

• All warm blooded animals except birds, rats, mice, food production animals; does not cover cold blooded animals (reptiles, fish, amphibians)

What is the point of the PHS and what does it include?

Assists investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord w/ the highest scientific, human, and ethical principles; sets standards for human euthanasia methods required for all vertebrates

NIH (National Institutes of Health) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

What is AALAS?

American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

• Professional non-profit organization for people involved in Lab Animal Science

• Certifies techs

• Publishes 2 journals: Lab Animal Science and Contemporary Topics in Lab Animal Science

• Annual meetings

What is AAALAC?

Association for Assessment and Accreditadtion of Lab Animal Care International

• Organization of lab animal DVMs and researchers to self-police their industry

• “Gold-standard” for industry, exceeds minimal requirements

• Most funding agencies use AAALAC accreditation as a ruler to award grants

What are the different types of animal research?

Behavorial

• Both for benefit of humans and animals

Environmental

• Effect of environment on animals

Biomedical

• Both for benefit of humans and animals

What is the definition of ethics?

Principles of honor and morality, accepted rules of conduct, or the moral principles of an individual

What are the 3 R’s?

Replacement

• Refers to replacing animals w/ a non-animal alternative that will enable collection of meaningful and valid data (use in-vitro or rat in place of dog)

Refinement

• Refers to methods that incorporate modification of a procedure to lessen animal pain and distress or enhance animal well-being (use of MRI instead of SX or necropsy)

Reduction

• Refers to using the minimal # of animals in a study while remaining consistent w/ sound scientific and statistical standards (using 1 control group w/ multiple study groups)

What are the most common causes of illness in exotics?

Husbandry and nutrition

What are some different tools required to see exotics?

Gram scale, microtainer blood tubes, incubators, mouth speculums, perches, dental intruments