PIL A- Species Specific Module- Husbandry and Welfare Flashcards
Standard condition 2 of the personal licence
‘The personal licence holder is entrusted with primary responsibility of the welfare of the animals on which he or she has performed regulated procedures’
Welfare responsibilities
Animal welfare is legal & moral responsibility of all individuals involved in work
= Home office inspector, Certificate holder, Project & personal licence holder, Veterinary advisor, Named animal care and welfare.
Welfare aims
Maintain animals in good health and physical condition.
Behaving in a manner normal for the species and strain.
Reasonably full expression of behavioural repertoire.
Amenable to handling & suitable for scientific. procedures.
Well-being must be checked daily -> frequency coincide with severity of procedure
Environment
Designed to provide suitable enviro inc. specialist requirements for exercise or social contact: need general & specialist procedure rooms ie. designated operating facility for surgery.
Environmental conditions can influence experimental results because: lab animals have sensitive and strong homeostatic mechanisms; can have compensatory physiological & behavioural changes via neuro-endocrine system.
Factors to consider: (1) temperature, (2) humidity, (3) light, (4) noise, (5) air quality
Temperature
Temp carefully controlled & maintained with 2°C range: Mice, rats & hamsters – 19-23°C.
Temp in cages can be higher than room temp (nesting material).
Variations in ambient temperature can cause changes in food and water consumption, drug activity, survival of microorganisms, body temperature.
Humidity
Rodents reduce thermal stress by increasing resp rather than sweating so optimum humidity important - Rats/mice room humidity – 45-65%.
Humidity can affect food consumption, or the absorption of compounds administered topically, Low RH = ‘ring tail’ in rats & High RH = raises ammonia levels
Light
Rats/mice are nocturnal so must consider:
1. ‘Photoperiod’ = light/dark cycle - 12/12 for mice & rats
2. Intensity = 350 lux measured 1m from the floor
Light can affect: synchronisation of breeding cycles, activity, gastro-intestinal mobility, growth and maturation rates, degenerative retinal changes, interactions with chemical carcinogens.
Noise
(1) Sound level: 50dB(A) NR45 free from distinct tonal content
(2) Frequency: Different to human range, therefore must consider “ultra-sound”
(3) Duration: A constant sound is less disruptive than occasional loud noises
Sound can: physically damage ear, audiogenic seizure, increase electrical activity in the brain, change body weight, hypertension, cannibalism, changes in blood chemistry, immune response & tumour resistance, impair reproductive function.
Air quality
Critical for maintaining temperature & RH.
Filtered to reduce risk of airborne contamination .
Removal of aromatic. substances from wood bedding and ammonia.
Deodorizers, insecticides, perfumed disinfectants should be avoided.
Draught free.
Use of pressure differentials.
Quality of room air could be different to that in the cage.
Micro VS Macro
Environment types: Macro = room vs Micro = cage
Housing must keep animals dry & warm and be made of harmless easily cleaned material.
Must permit a normal range of movement & exercise, ensure no overcrowding.
Free access to food and water, insulation from nesting materials.
Micro-environment influenced by
Air distribution
Cage type
Bedding/nesting materials – comfortable, dry, absorbent & non-contaminated
Enrichment devices – play tunnels, chew sticks
Species behaviour
Husbandry practices – labelling cages, mouse identification
Hygiene measures
- Health check within quarantine
- If infected – ‘dirty’ cant be introduced into animal storage, get clean animals via caesarean rederivation…
Breeding methods
(1) Permanently Mated: monogamous pairs or polygamous groups utilise post-partum mating
(most efficient – high litter turnover)
(2) Temporarily Mated: harems, females separated to litter, large scale breeding
(3) Observed Mating: rabbits
