Laboratory Animal Science – Exam Review Flashcards

Flashcards cover core concepts from legislation & 3Rs, genetics, alternatives, animal husbandry, anatomy, anesthesia/analgesia, pathology, euthanasia and ethology relevant for the Laboratory Animal Science course.

What are the Three R’s in laboratory animal science?

Replacement, Reduction and Refinement

Which organization’s guidelines form the basis of Belgian FELASA-aligned training?

Belgian Council of Laboratory Animal Science (BCLAS)

Which laboratory species accounts for the majority (≈69 %) of animal use in Flanders?

Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, guinea-pigs)

Name two model fish species frequently used in research.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and killifish (Nothobranchius spp.)

What is barrier housing?

An animal-facility design that uses airlocks, HEPA-filtered air and strict procedures to keep pathogens out of animal rooms.

Which European directive establishes the legal requirement to apply the 3Rs?

Directive 2010/63/EU

Define ‘germ-free’ animals.

Animals completely devoid of any detectable micro-organisms.

What is the standard number of inbreeding generations required to create an inbred strain?

At least 20 consecutive brother-sister matings

Which gene determines maleness in mammals and can create XX male mice if inserted?

Sry (Sex-determining Region Y) gene

Which two principal stress hormones rise during chronic stress in rodents?

Corticosterone and catecholamines (adrenaline/noradrenaline)

Give one advantage of individually ventilated cages (IVCs).

Reduced allergen & pathogen spread; improved micro-environment; high-density housing.

What is Tyzzer’s disease and its bacterial agent?

A lethal hepatic and intestinal infection in rodents caused by Clostridium piliforme

Which analgesic class is CONTRA-indicated in pregnant animals due to embryo-toxicity?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

What is the recommended humane endpoint for tumor-bearing mice concerning tumor weight?

Maximum tumour mass ≈10 % of body weight

Explain the difference between F1 and F2 hybrids.

F1 is the first cross of two inbred strains (isogenic, heterozygous); F2 results from inter-breeding F1s and is genetically segregating.

Which behavioral sign in mice often indicates pain or illness?

Hunched posture with pilo-erection and reduced grooming

Name the two routes most often used for blood collection in conscious mice.

Lateral tail vein and submandibular (facial) vein

What does ‘specific pathogen-free’ (SPF) mean?

Animals guaranteed free of a defined list of selected pathogens.

Which inhalant anesthetic is preferred for rodents due to rapid induction and recovery?

Isoflurane

What is the legal minimum: Who must approve any animal project in Belgium before it starts?

The Ethical Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECD)

Define ‘epistasis’.

Interaction where one gene masks or modifies the expression of another gene at a different locus.

Which virus causes mouse hepatitis and can devastate colonies?

Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV), a coronavirus

Why are sentinel animals used in health monitoring?

They are exposed to colony bedding/air to detect pathogens present without sampling research animals.

What is micro-injection in transgenesis?

Direct injection of foreign DNA into the male pronucleus of a fertilised egg to create transgenic offspring.

List two humane verification criteria that an animal is dead after euthanasia.

Cessation of heartbeat and respiration; fixed dilated pupils; rigor mortis; fall in body temperature.

Which environmental factor triggers ring-tail in rats?

Low relative humidity (< 30 %)

State one key physiologic parameter monitored during rodent anesthesia.

Respiratory rate (others: heart rate, body temperature)

What is the function of the cecum in guinea-pigs and rabbits?

Fermentation of cellulose; production of nutrients absorbed via coprophagy

Why are parenteral injections in rodents often given intraperitoneally?

Large peritoneal cavity allows easy rapid absorption when IV access is difficult.

What bacterial zoonosis is known as ‘rat-bite fever’?

Streptobacillus moniliformis infection

Which classification describes animals bred and maintained without deliberate genetic selection?

Outbred stock

Give the anesthesia reversal agent class for α2-agonists such as xylazine.

α2-adrenergic antagonists (e.g., atipamezole)

What is the maximum recommended blood volume to sample from a healthy mouse in two weeks?

≈10 % of total blood volume ≈ 1 % of body weight (e.g., 0.2 mL from 20 g mouse)

Name one mechanical (physical) euthanasia method acceptable for adult mice when performed correctly.

Cervical dislocation or decapitation (with prior sedation if required)

Which behavioural test revealed ‘latent learning’ in rats?

Tolman’s maze experiment showing cognitive mapping

What is ‘barbering’ in mice?

Dominant mouse plucks fur/whiskers from cage-mates during social grooming

Which two major components control body temperature and fluid balance post-anesthesia?

External warming (blankets/lamps) and fluid therapy

Why is the Whitten effect important in mouse breeding?

Male pheromones induce synchronized estrus in grouped females.

Name one principal reason for genetic quality control using microsatellite PCR.

To detect genetic contamination or confirm strain identity