Introduction to Exotic Medicine Flashcards
What are the mandatory regulations of the care and used of laboratory animals?
- The Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
- The key law governing research with animals in the US along with exubitions
- The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
- The Good Laboratory Practice Act
The AWA. What is it and what was its purpose?
- The animal welfare act
- Was the first law that protected non-farm, non-wildlife, animals in the United States
- ONLY federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research and exhibition
Which groups enforce and regulate the AWA?
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), APHIS (Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service) and the Animal Care Agency
Can the USDA and APHIS perform unannounced visits and if so, how often?
Yes, at least once a year.
Businesses and individuals using regulated animals must be licensed or registered with the USDA and facilities with regulated animals must be inspected yearly by APHIS. True or False?
True.
- Regulations include humane handling, care, identification, record keeping, treatment, and transportation.
- These regulations apply to: Animal research facilities, animal dealers, animal exhibitors, operators of animal auction sales, carriers and intermediate handlers of animals in shipment.
Research facilities were NOT required by the AWA to have an attending veterinarian who shall provide adequate veterinary care. True or False?
False. All research facilities are required by the AWA to have an accredited veterinarian on board.
The AWA requires that at registered-facilities all proposals to use animals in research must be reviewed and approved by whom?
A committee whose membership includes, at a minimum, an experienced scientist, a veterinarian, and an individual who is not affiliated with the institution (kind of the whistle blower) (such as a local veterinarian, minister, or employee of the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals: IACUC).
What is the Exotic Animal Definition?
Any animal that is not a dog, cat, horse or cow.
IACUC: what it stands for and what their responsibilities are.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Their responsibilities include:
- Reviewing the facility’s animal care and use program
- Inspecting the animal labs at least twice a year
- Reviewing and approving, disapproving, or requiring modifications to research protocols
- Responding to and, if necessary, investigating and acting on any public complaints or facility personnel reports of noncompliance involving animal care and use
- Reporting deficiencies in animal care and use
- Submitting evaluation reports to the institution
GLP
Good Laboratory Practice Act.
- Tighten the standards for research facilities that are engaged in product testing for the FDA
Order Rodentia (main and fun facts of rodents)
- Upper and lower incisors grow throughout lives (open rooted)
- 40% of all mammal species are rodents
- Nocturnal or crepuscular
- Highly successful and adaptive
- Found in nearly every region and habitat
- Generalist diet
- High reproductive rate
What are the uses for mice and rats?
Feeders:
-reptiles, birds of prey
Research: (95% of all lab animals mice more than rats)
-helping in research for cancer, the human genome, beauty products, disease studies, etc.
Pets
Types of Mice and Rats
Mice: (Mus musculus)
- Fancy, Himalayan, Satin, Long-haired, Brindle, Seal Point
Rats: (Rattus norvegicus)
- Hooded, Siamese, Blue, Silver, Rex, Hairless, Dumbo
Exotics:
- Giant Gambian Rats, African Zebra Mice
- African Spiny Mice (illegal in many states), more social than domestic mice, calmer, less likely to bite.
Rat Behavior (Characteristics)
- Considered to be better pets than mice (both are nocturnal)
- Easily socialized
- Rarely bite
- Social animals in small groups (can also be housed alone), rats of both sexes can both be housed together
- Males are more docile than females (rarely fight or territorial)
- Neutered Males produce little odor
- Curious and Intelligent (can be easily trained)
- Good parents
- do NOT cannibalize their young
- Male rats care for young when females leave the nest
Mice Behavior (Characteristics)
- More quick and active
- Quicker to bite
- Stronger odor
- Social (should NEVER be housed alone), will often fight or kill other mice (males only), dominance hierarchy usually is established
- Territorial
- Males should NEVER be housed together
- Parents WILL cannibalize young
General Anatomy of Mice and Rats
Teeth:
- Incisors are open rooted (iron pigments color the teeth orange)
- Cheek teeth (molars) do NOT continue to grow
- Separated by a gap called diastema
Eyes:
- Black (except for albinos which are red)
-Albinos have poor vision (rely on other senses)
- Poorly-formed 3rd eyelid (nictating membrane) gives eye buldging appearance
Tail:
- Theromoregulation
- Balance
- Sensitive to pain (never hold or restrain by the tail)
Anatomy of the Digestive System of Mice and Rats
- Monogastric: Stomach is divided into a non-glandular forestomach and a glandular hindstomach
- Coprophagy (essential for vitamin absorption)
- Allows for assimilation of B vitamins and other nutrients
- Maintain proper gut flora
- Unable to vomit (No fasting necessary for anesthesia)
- They lack the esophageal musculature to do so
- Powerful barrier between the esophagus and stomach
- No Gall Bladder
- Highly-developed cecum in rats
Anatomy of the glands found within Mice and Rats
- Harderian glands
- Located behind each eye
- Important for ocular lubrication and pheromone behavior
- When stressed, will hypersecrete porphyrin red pigment (looks like crusty red tears) - Chromodacryorrhea
- When grooming, will often transfer pigment to other parts of body (feet)
- Zymbal’s Gland
- Surround base of ear - modified sebaceous glands - secrete into the auditory canal
- Tumors can look like ear infection - may become large
- Few Sweat Glands
- Only found around footpad
- Tail and ears help with thermoregulation
- No scent glands (use feces, urine, milk, skin phermones)
- Acute sense of smell and hearing
- Poor vision - use whiskers to navigate environment
Physiology and Reproduction of Mice and Rats
- Life span
- Mice: 1-3 years
- Rats: 2-4 years
- Sexual Maturity
- Both: 6-8 weeks (once mature, females will cycle every 4-5 days)
- Gestation
- Mice: 19-21 days
- Rats: 21-23 days
- Litter Size
- Mice: 8-12 pups
- Rats: Up to 18 pups
- Weaned at 21 to 28 days
- Altricial young (hairless/featherless needing nourishment from mom)
- Hair by 7-10 days
- Eyes open by 14-20 days
Reproduction of Mice and Rats
- Polyestrous
- Can sex by comparing anogenital distance (greater in males)
- Males have an os penis
Define and explain Postpartum Estrus
- Estrus with ovulation and corpus luteum production that occurs in some animals (the fur seal) immediately following parturition.
- Lasts up to 24 hrs
- Females bred at the postpartum estrus have an extended gestation period:
- Facultative diapause (delayed implantation)
Define and explain the Whitten Effect
- A small group of anestrus females come into estrus when a male is introduced to the group causing a synchronization of cycles within 72 hours
- Seen mostly in Mice
Define and explain what the Bruce Effect is
*Pregnant females (bred within the past 24 hrs to 4 days) are exposed to the pheromones (urine/physical presence) of a strange male and abort.
What are the 4 popular species of Hamster?
- Golden (Syrian, now come in many color variations and hair length)
- Russian (2 spp, illegal in some states)
- Chinese and Dwarf (smallest)
- Status in the wild is unknown
