expanded+APSC+2164+Learner+Objectives

APSC 2164 Companion and Laboratory Animal Care and Handling

Learner Objectives

Lab Animal Component of Course Laws & Regulations

  1. IACUC Membership Requirements

    • AWA (Animal Welfare Act): 3 members

      • Veterinary, Scientist, Non-scientist/community member

      • Appointed by the Institutional Official (IO)

    • PHS (Public Health Service) policies: 5 members

      • Veterinary, Scientist, Non-scientist, Community member, 1 additional member

      • Appointed by the Institutional Official (IO)

  2. Distinguishing Applicable Regulations

    • Species (AWA):

      • Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Non-Human Primates (NHP), Wild warm-blooded mammals, Agricultural animals used in biomedical research

    • Color of Money (PHS):

      • If the project is funded by PHS or any source at the institution is receiving PHS funds (NIH, FDA, CDC, etc.)

      • No regulated species and no PHS funding: no regulations apply

      • Providing animal data to the FDA is governed by PHS Policy and "The Guide"

  3. Regulated Animal Species under AWA

    • Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, NHP, Wild warm-blooded mammals, Agricultural animals for biomedical research

  4. IACUC Inspections and Reviews

    • Required every 6 months under both AWA and PHS

      • Facility inspection every 6 months

      • Program review every 6 months

      • Includes “Blended” Program: inspection and review every 6 months

  5. 3 R's of Animal Research

    • Reduction:

      • Minimizing the number of animals used (e.g., utilizing healthy animals, statistical planning prior to studies)

    • Refinement:

      • Reducing pain and distress (e.g., using anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers with healthy animals)

    • Replacement:

      • Using non-animal alternatives or lower-order species (e.g., computer models, cell cultures, plants, or invertebrates)

Rodent and Rabbit Anatomy and Biology

  1. Identifying Gender by Anogenital Distance

    • Measurements from the genital papilla to anus for: Rat, Mouse, Hamster, Gerbil

    • For Guinea Pig and Rabbit: no genital papilla; finger pressure to extrude penis is required

  2. Unique Anatomical Features in Species

    • Rat: Lacks gall bladder

    • Hamster: Cheek pouches, flank marking glands

    • Gerbil: Ventral abdominal marking glands

    • Incisor teeth continuously grow in all rodents (Rat, Mouse, Hamster, Gerbil, Guinea Pig) and rabbits

    • Both glandular and non-glandular areas in the stomach (Rat, Mouse, Hamster, Gerbil)

    • Only glandular stomach found in Guinea Pig and Rabbit

    • Guinea Pig has a single pair of mammary glands

Animal Handling and Restraint

  1. Manual Techniques for Handling Rats and Mice

    • Tail Restraint: Pick up by the base; injury risk if picked by the tip (degloving injury)

    • Thoracic Encirclement (Rat): Hand over back, thumb behind one elbow, forefinger behind the other

    • Scruff Hold:

      • Rat: Gather skin along back

      • Mouse: Grasp skin over scruff, up to the ears

  2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Handling Techniques

    • Tail Restraint:

      • Advantage: Quick

      • Disadvantage: Risk of tail injury

    • Thoracic Encirclement:

      • Advantage: Good restraint with minimal stress

      • Disadvantage: May hinder breathing

    • Scruff Hold:

      • Advantage: Provides better restraint

      • Disadvantage: Causes stress, may restrict breathing

  3. Restraint Devices for Rats and Mice

    • Not on exam

Occupational Safety and Health

  1. Examples of Risks in Animal Facilities

    • Animal bites/scratches, physical hazards, protocol-related hazards, allergens, zoonotic diseases

  2. Minimizing Risks

    • Risk/hazard identification, personnel training, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), personal hygiene, medical assessments

  3. Sources of Allergens from Rodents

    • Proteins in urine and saliva, direct contact with animals or bedding, and aerosols

  4. Zoonotic Agents and Routes of Entry

    • Infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi) transmissible between animals and humans

      • Entry routes: Oral, topical, inhaled, bites, scratches

  5. Definition and Control of Fomites

    • Fomites: Nonliving objects that may carry infectious agents (e.g., brooms, mops, gloves, feed containers)

    • Control via regular disinfection

Rat and Mouse Behaviors

  1. Normal Behaviors

    • Social interaction, shelter seeking, nest building, foraging, gnawing, climbing, reproduction

  2. Abnormal Behaviors

    • Infanticide, barbering, stereotypic behaviors (e.g., bar mouthing, circling)

  3. Minimizing Abnormal Behaviors

    • Provide cagemates for social species

    • Environmental enrichment (toys, nesting material, shelters)

Reproduction and Breeding of Lab Animals

  1. Inbred vs. Outbred Rodents

    • Inbred Strain: 21+ generations of brother-sister or parent-offspring; increased homozygosity

    • Outbred Stock: Avoidance of inbreeding; animals are genetically similar, maximizing heterozygosity

  2. Average Length of Estrous Cycle

    • Rat, Mouse, Gerbil: 5 days

    • Hamster: 4 days

    • Guinea Pig: 16 days

    • Rabbit: Induced ovulator, no estrous cycle

  3. Breeding Best Practices

    • Female should be brought to male's cage to prevent dominance fights and encourage breeding

  4. Breeding Systems

    • Monogamous (pair) mating

    • Polygamous (harem) mating

  5. Breeding Observations

    • Look for sperm or vaginal plug; conduct vaginal lavage to identify sperm

  6. Gestation Lengths

    • Hamster: 16 days

    • Mouse: 19 days

    • Rat: 21 days

    • Gerbil: 26 days

    • Rabbit: 32 days

    • Guinea Pig: 68 days

  7. Identifying Gender in Species

    • Use anogenital distance to identify gender in Rat, Mouse, Hamster, Gerbil

    • For Guinea Pig and Rabbit: finger pressure is used to extrude the penis.