Health Status Flashcards
Anatomy/Physiology
Human, mouse and other mammals shared a common ancestor approximately 80 million years ago
Mice and men share about 97.5 per cent of their working DNA
Of the approximately 4,000 genes that have been studied, less than 10 are found in one species but not in the other
Use in Science
Scientists use these similarities to study disease in humans.
May do this by causing similar disease in animals to study effects.
To do this effectively it is important to be sure that the effects you are seeing result from your procedure and not from some unintended source.
Unintended sources
1 Other diseases 2 Unintended pain 3 Stress/distress 4 Social/environmental factors Overcrowding/isolation Boredom Environment (hot, cold, light, light cycles.) Consider position on rack Diet, enrichment/lack of.
DISEASE
An impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning (WHO)
Also includes stress (distress) and pain
CAUSES/CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASE
INFECTIOUS
Virus Bacteria Fungi Protozoa Parasites
CAUSES/CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASE
NON-INFECTIOUS
Trauma Environment Metabolic Chemicals Nutrition Ageing Hereditary Stress
Pain
Disease
Clinical
Sub-clinical
Zoonotic
Disease
Clinical
Shows signs of illness
Disease
Sub-clinical
Not obvious - but may still be transmittable
Disease
Zoonotic
Transmittable from animals to man and v.v.
Strepto monilliformis (Rats) Leptospirosis – wild rodents only Piscine tuberculosis (Fish) Influenza (Ferrets) Erysipelas (Pigs) Ringworm (G.Pigs) Psittacosis (Birds)
Common diseases of mice
Virus
MNV
Common diseases of mice
Bacterial
Pasteurella
Staph
Strep
Helicobacter
Common diseases of mice
Parasites
Protozoa
Common diseases of rats
Bacterial
Klebsiella
Staph
Strep
Helicobacter
Common diseases of rats
Protozoa
Common diseases of fish
Bacterial
Fish TB (T marinum)
fin rot
Common diseases of fish
Parasites
Oodinium (dinoflagellates - velvet)
Ichthyophirius (ciliate - white spot)
Saprolegnia (fungus)
Fin rot (bacterial)
Recognising Pain and Distress
Know what a normal animal looks like
Look for change in behaviour or appearance
Look for subtle signs
Signs
Three conditions:
Pain
Disease
Stress/Distress
may display signs - especially pain and diseaes
General Signs of Pain & Disease
Alteration of normal behaviour/appearance
Reduced feeding/weight loss
Inactivity/docility
Isolation from of other animals (in social species)
Signs of Disease & Pain in
Rodents
Piloerection Hunched posture ‘Tucked up’ appearance Dehydration (loss of skin elasticity) Chromodacryorrhea in rats Sunken or closed eyes
PAIN (rodents)
May occur in the absence of disease or distress
May not be obvious unless severe
Variable signs according to species
Additional Signs of pain - rodents
Twitching Lameness Writhing Staggering Chewing Head pressing ‘Pain face’
Face signs - rodents
Eye closure or eye “squeezing”
Less bulging of the nose and cheek with eventual absence of the crease between the cheek and whisker pads
Ears fold, curl and angle forwards or outwards, resulting in a pointed shape. The space between the ears may appear wider
Whiskers move forward (away from the face and tend to bunch, giving the appearance of whiskers standing on end
Signs of Disease & Pain in Fish
Spots, ulcers etc. on skin Bloating Colour changes Abnormal swimming positions lack of response to external stimulation Reduced feeding/weight loss/sunken belly Increase in gill rate Excessive fin movement Clamped fins Rubbing the affected area against the side of the tank
Fish
Fungus
Saprolegnia
looks like velvet
Fish
White spot
Ichthyophirius
Fish
Fin rot
Aeromonas
Flexibacter
Scoring Pain and Distress
Experience
Score sheets
Regular weighing (before and after procedure)
Consequences of stress
Stress response involves a complex signalling pathway among neurons and somatic cells
raised cortisone/cortisol levels
counters insulin – raised glucose levels
weakening effects on the immune response
susceptibility to other diseases
inability to tolerate anaesthesia
lowered breeding rates
What Effect does stress have on research?
Impact on physiological parameters
Influence tumour growth
Variability and false conclusions
AVOID what can be avoided
How we avoid what can be avoided
Supply young healthy animals Ensure continued high health status Avoid environmental stress Avoid social stress Provide environmental enrichment Monitor GM animals
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
SELECTION OF ANIMALS
BREEDING TERMS
outbred
inbred 99% homozygous
F1 hybrid
mutant
genetically altered
Outbred
not mated to close relatives
provides genetic variability
Inbred
brother and sister mating
20th generation in mice
F1 hybrid
cross 2 strains of animals
mutant
random mutant, naturally occurring
need PIL and PLL
Genetically altered
man-made mutant
need PIL and PLL
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
CATEGORIES OF HEALTH STATUS
SPECIFIED PATHOGEN FREE (SPF)
GNOTOBIOTIC
GERM FREE
CONVENTIONAL
Specified pathogen free (SPF)
with list of pathogens it DOESN’T have
commonest
Gnotobiotic
few diseases (lists what it does and doesn't have)
Germ free
no disease
not even gut flora
Conventional
don’t know what it does/doesn’t have
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
SPF Animals
HOW ARE THESE OBTAINED?
Caesarean rederivation
(removed just before time of birth)
Embryo transfer (take young embryos from one mother and transplant into another)
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
CONTROL OF DISEASE
barriers and quarantine
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
CONTROL OF DISEASE
Barriers
isolate animals form other animals, staff and equipment
Rodents: Shower/change, sterilise items
IVC units
Fish: Bleached eggs. Limit contact between tanks: Use Separate equipment (where possible)
PRODUCING HEALTHY ANIMALS
CONTROL OF DISEASE
Quarantine
imported animals
check health screens of imported animals and re-screen
HEALTH MONITORING
Ensuring high health status
Regular commercial screening Sentinel Monitoring Extra screening/pathology as necessary Daily checks Autopsy as required
OBTAINING MEDICINES
VETERINARY MEDICINES REGULATIONS 2005
POM’s only from NVS
Requirement to keep records
Controlled drugs must be locked away
Disposal into labelled purple topped bins or via BSU
