MAINTENANCE

OF

LABORATORY ANIMALS

Department of Pharmacology Sree Siddaganga college of Pharmacy

Tumkur-572 102Karnataka

Proper management of animal facilities is essential to the welfare of animals, validity of research data, and health and safety of the animal care staff.

A good husbandary program provides a system of housing and care that permits animals to grow, mature , reproduce , and maintain good health.

housing

It should

provide space that is adequate;

provide a comfortable environment;

provide an escape proof enclosure that confines animals safely;

provide easy access to food and water;

provide adequate ventilation;

keep the animals dry and clean,

attention must be given to

eliminating sharp edges and

broken wires, keeping cage

in good condition.

the housing should be constructed

of sturdy, durable materials and

designed to minimize cross

infection between adjoining units.

Social environmentSocial environment The social environment includes all interactions among The social environment includes all interactions among

individuals of a group or among those able to individuals of a group or among those able to communicate.communicate.

Population density can affect reproduction, metabolism, Population density can affect reproduction, metabolism, immune responses and behavior. immune responses and behavior.

should enrich the environment as appropriate to the should enrich the environment as appropriate to the species, especially when animals will be held for long species, especially when animals will be held for long periods.periods.

SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LABORATORY ANIMALSLABORATORY ANIMALS

Animal Animal Weight Weight (grams)(grams)

Floor Floor area/animal area/animal

(inches) (inches)

Height Height (inches)(inches)

Mice Mice

Rats Rats

<10<10

10-1510-15

15-2515-25

>25>25

<100<100

100-200100-200

200-300200-300

300-400300-400

400-500400-500

>500>500

6.06.0

8.08.0

12.012.0

15.015.0

17.017.0

23.023.0

29.029.0

40.040.0

60.060.0

70.0 70.0

55

55

55

55

77

77

77

77

77

77

Animal Animal Weight Weight (grams)(grams)

Floor area/animalFloor area/animal

(inch(inch22) ) Height Height (inches)(inches)

Hamsters Hamsters

Guinea pigGuinea pig

<60

60-80

80-100

>100

≤350

>350

10.0

13.0

16.0

19.0

60.0

101.0

66

66

66

66

77

77

Animal Animal Weight (kg)Weight (kg) Floor area/animalFloor area/animal

(ft(ft22) ) Height Height (inches)(inches)

Rabbits Rabbits

Cats Cats

DogsDogs

<2<2

2-42-4

4-5.44-5.4

>5.4>5.4

≤≤44

>4>4

<15<15

15-3015-30

>30>30

1.51.5

3.03.0

4.04.0

5.05.0

3.03.0

4.04.0

8.08.0

12.112.1

24.024.0

1414

1414

1414

1414

2424

2424

Activity Provision should be made Provision should be made

for animals with specialized for animals with specialized locomotor pattern to express locomotor pattern to express these patterns, especially when these patterns, especially when the animals are held for long the animals are held for long periods. periods.

e.g.e.g.,ropes, bars, and ,ropes, bars, and perches are appropriate for perches are appropriate for branching non-human branching non-human primates.primates.

Animal environmentAnimal environment

Micro-environment:Micro-environment: The physical environment The physical environment immediately surrounding it, for example, temperature immediately surrounding it, for example, temperature and humidity in the cage or primary enclosure.and humidity in the cage or primary enclosure.

Macro-environment:Macro-environment: The physical conditions in the The physical conditions in the room or secondary enclosure constitute the room or secondary enclosure constitute the macroenvironment. macroenvironment.

Temperature, humidity and concentrations of gases Temperature, humidity and concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia are higher in such as carbon dioxide and ammonia are higher in cages (unless they are individually ventilated) than in cages (unless they are individually ventilated) than in the surrounding room.the surrounding room.

Animal Animal Relative Relative humidity(%)humidity(%)

Dry bulb temperature Dry bulb temperature ((00C)C)

Mouse, Rat, Hamster, Mouse, Rat, Hamster, Guinea pigGuinea pig

Rabbit Rabbit Cat, Dog, Non-human Cat, Dog, Non-human

primatesprimates

40-7040-70

40-6040-60

30-7030-70

18-2618-26

16-2116-21

18-2918-29

Temperature & HumidityTemperature & HumidityTemperature and humidity affect metabolism and behavior.

Air conditioning is an effective means of regulating these environmental parameters for laboratory animals.

VentilationVentilation The purpose of ventilation is The purpose of ventilation is • to supply adequate oxygen;to supply adequate oxygen;• remove thermal loads caused by animal respiration, remove thermal loads caused by animal respiration, • lights and equipment; lights and equipment; • dilute gaseous and particulate contaminants; dilute gaseous and particulate contaminants;

16-20 fresh air changes/hour appears to provide adequate 16-20 fresh air changes/hour appears to provide adequate ventilation for animal facilities. ventilation for animal facilities.

Ventilation also provides an odor free environment.Ventilation also provides an odor free environment.

IlluminationIllumination

Light can affect the physiology and behavior of Light can affect the physiology and behavior of

various animals.various animals.

Lighting should be uniformly diffused throughout Lighting should be uniformly diffused throughout

animals facilities and provide sufficient illumination.animals facilities and provide sufficient illumination.

Fluorescent tube lights fixed in such a way facilitate Fluorescent tube lights fixed in such a way facilitate

uniform distribution of light.uniform distribution of light.

Light intensity of 350-400 lux one metre above the Light intensity of 350-400 lux one metre above the

floor level is idealfloor level is ideal..

NoiseNoise

Separation of human from animal areas is the best way Separation of human from animal areas is the best way to minimize disturbances.to minimize disturbances.

Continuous exposure to acoustical levels above 85 dB Continuous exposure to acoustical levels above 85 dB can have both auditory and nonauditory effects, can have both auditory and nonauditory effects, including including

eosinopenia and increased adrenal weights in rodents,eosinopenia and increased adrenal weights in rodents, reduced fertility in rodents andreduced fertility in rodents and increased blood pressure in nonhuman primates.increased blood pressure in nonhuman primates.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REQUIRED FORENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR LABORATORY ANIMALSLABORATORY ANIMALS

Temperature :Temperature : Humidity :Humidity : Ventilation :Ventilation :

Light-dark circles :Light-dark circles :

Light-intensity :Light-intensity :

Light source :Light source :

Noise level :Noise level :

25°C± 2°C throughout the year25°C± 2°C throughout the year45-55% throughout the year45-55% throughout the year16-20 fresh air changes/hour 16-20 fresh air changes/hour

12 hours light and 12 hours darkor 14 hours 12 hours light and 12 hours darkor 14 hours light and 10 hours dark.light and 10 hours dark.

300-400 lux one metre above the floor level300-400 lux one metre above the floor level Fluorescent tube lights fixed in such a way Fluorescent tube lights fixed in such a way

to facilitate uniform distribution of light.to facilitate uniform distribution of light.

Should be less than 65 decibels (should Should be less than 65 decibels (should avoid all high frequency sound)avoid all high frequency sound)

food

Animals should be fed Animals should be fed palatable, non-contaminated, palatable, non-contaminated, and nutritionally adequate and nutritionally adequate food daily unless the food daily unless the experimental protocol experimental protocol requires otherwise.requires otherwise.

Diet should be free from heavy metals (e.g., lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury), naturally occurring toxins , microbial ,chemical and other contaminants.

Diet Composition for Rodents (Rats, Diet Composition for Rodents (Rats, Mice & Hamsters)Mice & Hamsters)

Wheat flour Wheat flour Roasted Bengal gram flour Roasted Bengal gram flour

Skim milk powderSkim milk powderCaseinCaseinRefined groundnut oil Refined groundnut oil Salt mixture Salt mixture Vitamin mixtureVitamin mixture

22.5%22.5%60.0%60.0%5.0%5.0%4.0%4.0%4.0%4.0%4.0%4.0%0.5%0.5%

Diet Composition for Monkeys, Rabbit Diet Composition for Monkeys, Rabbit & Guinea pigs& Guinea pigs

Wheat flour Wheat flour Roasted Bengal gram Roasted Bengal gram Casein Casein Refined groundnut oil Refined groundnut oil Salt mixture Salt mixture Vitamin mixture Vitamin mixture Vitamin C Vitamin C

61.3%61.3%28.2%28.2%1.0%1.0%5.0%5.0%4.0%4.0%0.5%0.5%50mg/100g diet50mg/100g diet

Scale of DietScale of Diet

RatRatMouseMouseHamsterHamsterMonkeyMonkeyRabbitRabbitGuinea pigGuinea pig

15-20 g/day15-20 g/day5 g/day5 g/day15 g/day15 g/day150 g/day150 g/day50-100 g/day50-100 g/day25 g/day25 g/day

Laboratory animal feed

BeddingBedding Bedding should be Bedding should be absorbent, free of toxic absorbent, free of toxic chemicals or other chemicals or other substances that could injure substances that could injure animals or personnel, and of animals or personnel, and of a type not readily eaten by a type not readily eaten by animals.animals.

Bedding should be removed Bedding should be removed and replaced with fresh and replaced with fresh materials as often as materials as often as necessary to keep the necessary to keep the animals clean and dry.animals clean and dry.

Sanitation &cleanlinessSanitation &cleanliness Animal rooms, corridors, storage Animal rooms, corridors, storage

spaces, and other areas should be spaces, and other areas should be cleaned with appropriate cleaned with appropriate detergents and disinfectants as detergents and disinfectants as often as often as necessary to keep them to keep them free of dirt, debris , and harmful free of dirt, debris , and harmful contamination. contamination.

Wastes should be removed regularly and frequently.

All waste should be collected and disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner.

Prevent infestation by pests such as cockroaches, flies and wild or escaped rodents. Improper use of pesticides can induce toxic effects in research animals and interfere with the experimental

procedures.

Hazardous wastes should be rendered safe by sterilization or other appropriate means before they are removed from an animal facility for disposal.

The animal house should maintain the following records:The animal house should maintain the following records: Animal house plans, which includes typical floor plan, all fixtures Animal house plans, which includes typical floor plan, all fixtures

etcetc.. Animal house staff record-both technical and non -technicalAnimal house staff record-both technical and non -technical Health record of staff / animalsHealth record of staff / animals All SOPs relevant to the animalsAll SOPs relevant to the animals Breeding, stock, purchase and sales recordsBreeding, stock, purchase and sales records Minutes of institute Animals Ethics Committee MeetingsMinutes of institute Animals Ethics Committee Meetings Records of experiments conducted with the number of animals used Records of experiments conducted with the number of animals used

(copy of Form D)(copy of Form D) Death RecordDeath Record Clinical record of sick animalsClinical record of sick animals Training record of staff involved in animal activitiesTraining record of staff involved in animal activities Water analysis report.Water analysis report.

Record keeping

Reference:Reference:

Guide for care and use of lab animals-Guide for care and use of lab animals-U.S.Dept of health and human services. U.S.Dept of health and human services. (National Institute of Health) (National Institute of Health)

Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2003; Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2003; 35: 257-274 (CPSCEA guidelines) 35: 257-274 (CPSCEA guidelines)

ICMR Bulletin, April 2004; Vol.34, No.4:22-28