topic 4: Animal Housing/Facility Management Flashcards
1
Q
main areas of a facility (from cleanest to dirtiest)
A
- surgery rooms
- procedure rooms
- animal housing rooms
- bedding and feed storage rooms
- quarantine rooms
- cleaning & washing areas
- necropsy & carcass disposal room
2
Q
what kind of equipment is found in a surgery room?
A
- surgical table
- operating lights
- anaesthetic machine
- ventilator
- fluid pump, CRI machine
- relevant monitoring equipment
- autoclave (with or without dryer)
- scrub area in the antechamber with adjoining prep room
3
Q
what kind of equipment is found in a procedure room?
A
- required machinery (e.g. anaesthetic machine, etc.)
- imaging equipment (e.g. X-ray) may be housed separately due to different requirements such as wall shielding.
- floors may need to be reinforced to withstand machinery weight
- BSC (biosafety cabinet) for procedures e.g. injections/blood draws/euthanasia/tissue collections
- consumables & drugs in fridge/safety cabinets as required
- diagnostic lab (if applicable)
4
Q
what kind of equipment is found in an animal housing room/quarantine room?
A
- IVC racks
- animal transfer station/cage changing station
- BSC here is optional but good to have!
5
Q
what kind of equipment is found in a feed/bedding storage room?
A
- metal shelves/wooden pallets to elevate the feed from the ground
- at least 6 inches away from the walls
6
Q
what kind of equipment is found in a cleaning/washing area?
A
- cleaning equipment e.g. pressure washers, hoses, disinfectants, sprayers
- bedding scrapping station
- rodent cage washer
- industrial autoclave
- chemical cabinet
7
Q
what kind of equipment is found in a necropsy/carcass disposal room?
A
- necropsy table
- fridges/freezers to store carcasses
- histopathology equipment
- liquid nitrogen tanks
8
Q
ALL ROOMS SHOULD HAVE….
A
- emergency shower & eyewash station
- handwashing sink
- drainage hole with appropriate cover
- fire extinguisher
- thermometer
- hygrometer
9
Q
SPF vs Conventional animal housing
A
- free of a specific list of pathogens by routine testing (SPF) vs microbial burden unknown & untested, may harbour diseases (conventional)
- IVC/flexible film isolators (SPF) vs shoe box cages (conventional)
- “clean” facility (SPF) vs no defined “clean” or “dirty” traffic flow (conventional)
- food and bedding are autoclaved/irradiated (SPF) vs feed and bedding may not be sterile (conventional)
- water undergoes reverse osmosis (SPF) vs water can be tap water (conventional)
- air is HEPA filtered (SPF) vs not HEPA filtered (conventional)
- “clean”/”barrier”* environment (SPF) vs “clean” & “dirty” items can enter/exit from the same doors (conventional)
- procedures/cage change done in Animal Transfer Station or ABSL-2 safety cabinet hood (SPF) vs in open rooms (conventional)
- restricted access (SPF) vs unrestricted access (conventional)
- PPE required (SPF) vs PPE may not be required (conventional)
10
Q
barrier environment
A
- prevents infectious agents from entering an area where animals of a defined health status are housed/used
- may have wet showers or changing into dedicated clothing/footwear/sterile disposable outer garments
- PPE, show covers, gloves, face masks, hairnets
- airlock/air shower & shoe bath
- only SPF animals may pass through the area
11
Q
microenvironment
A
- immediate physical environment that is surrounding the animal
- environment in the primary enclosure (cage, pen, stall, etc.)
- resources which animals come directly into contact with
- temperature, humidity, ventilation, gaseous/particulate composition of air
- affects behaviour, health, well-being of the animal & physiology of the animal
- may be influenced by the macroenvironment (room that the cages are housed in)
12
Q
primary enclosures should…..
A
- allow normal physiological/behavioural needs of animals (e.g. urination, defecation, normal movements &posture adjustments, breeding & maintenance of body temperature)
- allow social interaction & development of hierarchies within or between enclosures
- allow animals to be clean and dry (as consistent with species requirement)
- resist corrosion and withstand sanitation
- allow adequate ventilation
- allow access to food and water
- allow easy filling/refilling, changing, servicing and cleaning of water and food utensils
- provide a secure environment that does not allow escape or the accidental entrapment of appendages/animals between surfaces
- be free of sharp edges that may injure the animals
- allow observation of animals with minimal disturbance to them
13
Q
ventilation of cages
A
- well-ventilated
- door grills
- wire bottoms to let air circulate well
14
Q
open-top caging
A
- barrier is at room level
- plastic cage with lid covering the top
- exposed to macroenvironment!!!
- must set the temperature/humidity of the macroenvironment properly
- potential contamination from personnel or the environment is the HIGHEST
15
Q
static isolator cage
A
- barrier is at cage level
- plastic cage with lid covering the top, no seal around the lid
- some possible cross contamination
- there is no action of moving air in or out of the cage (low ventilation)
- disposable cages are available for cytotoxic studies
- can be expensive to replace
- MODERATE risk of contamination from personnel
- higher levels of waste gases (Ammonia, CO2)
16
Q
individually ventilated cages (IVC)
A
- silicone o-ring seal
- some possible cross contamination
- air is circulated in or out of the cage by rack. frequency is adjustable
- cages are reusable & stand up to sanitising procedures
- expensive to replace & set-up
- lowest risk of contamination from personnel
17
Q
factors that affect the microenvironment (temperature and humidity)
A
- housing materials & construction
- use of filter tops
- number of animals per cage
- forced ventilation of enclosures
- frequency of bedding changes and bedding type
18
Q
what happens if humidity in the microenvironment is too high/too low?
A
- ideal: 55% (+/- 10%)
- if too high: respiratory disease in rats or nasal dermatitis infection in gerbils
- if too low: ringtail in rats
19
Q
ideal temperature & humidity settings (for rodents, nude rodents, guinea pigs, rabbits)
A
- rodents: 20-24°C, 55% (+/- 10%) humidity
- nude rodents: 22-26°C, 55% (+/- 10%) humidity
- guinea pigs: 18-24°C, 40-70% humidity
- rabbits: 16-22°C, 55 (+/- 10%) humidity
20
Q
macroenvironment
A
- physical environment of the secondary enclosure (room/barn/outdoor habitat)
- affects the behaviour, health, well-being of animals & physiology of animals
- macroenvironment can affect the microenvironment
- temperature
- relative humidity
- ventilation
- dust
- lighting
- noise & vibrations
21
Q
room temperature (macroenvironment)
A
- 18-24°C
- must have MINIMAL FLUCTUATIONS
- monitor closely
- limit fluctuations to +/- 2°C
- changes in temperature causes animals to respond by altering their metabolic rates
- this may affect experimental results due to metabolic inconsistencies
- drug activity/toxicity/metabolism/feed & water intake/reproductive performance/growth/susceptibility to diseases may all be affected
22
Q
relative humidity (macroenvironment)
A
- affects thermoregulation, food consumption, activity level, disease transmission
- may cause respiratory problems in animals (see card 18)
- can cause spoilage of feed and mould growth in bedding
- can be 30-70%, +/- 5-10% or whatever is the most appropriate for the species
23
Q
ventilation (macroenvironment)
A
- good ventilation/air exchange rates can help to remove heat, ammonia, carbon dioxide and any airborne particles
- 10-15 air exchanges per hour is recommended
- positive (air gets pushed out) & negative pressure (air gets sucked in)
24
Q
dust (macroenvironment)
A
- microorganisms can attach to dust particles and contaminate animals & their environments
- can possibly cause LAA (lab-acquired allergies)
- change room filters periodically for optimal effectiveness
- maintain proper air flow rate into the room
- good housekeeping
25
Q
lightning (macroenvironment)
A
- lights that are too bright can cause stress to the animal
- wavelength of light that the animal is exposed to will impact growth, reproduction & development
- albino animals may get phototoxic retinopathy when exposed to light above 300 lux (too intense)
- 12 hour light/dark cycles
- 10 hour light/14 hour dark may be used for breeders
- red lights can be used (researchers can continue work even in the dark while minimising disturbance to rodents)
- red films on the door panels (prevent corridor lights from going into the room
- cage/racks can be rotated routinely relative to light sources
- animals can be provided with tunnelling/hiding structures so they can modify their own light exposure
- providing variable intensity light controls
26
Q
noise and vibrations (macroenvironment)
A
- more than 85 decibels of noise can cause unnecessary stress, decreased breeding/fertility, rabbits jumping in cages
- affects food/water intake, blood pressure, hormones/immune responses, WBC count & plasma cholesterol levels & learning abilities
- pigs and dogs (noisier animals) should be housed away from rodents and rabbits (noise sensitive animals)
- no radio except if for enrichment for NHPs
27
Q
benefits/importance of environmental enrichment in relation to animal welfare
A
- improves biological function of captive animals living in a modified environment
- increases the number and range of normal behaviour of animals
- decreases abnormal behaviours
- increases animal’s interaction with the environment
- enhances animal’s ability to cope with behavioural & physiological challenges
28
Q
examples of environmental enrichment
A
- social interaction (animal & animal or animal & human)
- food enrichment (foraging behaviour)
- physical enrichment (experiencing different microenvironmental conditions such as shelters, perches & bedding)
- sensory enrichment (engages an animal’s senses, may not necessarily require interactions e.g. TV, music or smells)
- cognitive & occupational resources (positive reinforcement technique (PRT), puzzles & activities)
29
Q
role of the laboratory technician
A
- animal care & husbandry
- animal acquisition
- transportation
- quarantine and conditioning
- health monitoring (reporting abnormalities & checking on sick animals)
- biological waste/carcass disposal
- record keeping & facility maintenance
- daily animal and housing checks (ensure that there is food and water, ad-hoc cleaning)
- husbandry as required (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, etc.)
- giving treatment to sick animals as required
- emergency care (if needed)
- removing dead animals
- separating animals when weaning is due so that there is no overcrowding in cages
- ensuring enrichment is available in cages
30
Q
animal acquisition (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- must be LAWFUL (with approvals & proof of purchase from authorised suppliers)
- collect information from suppliers regarding the genetics & pathogen status of their colonies/individual animals + their clinical history
- breeding colonies should only be established based on need (managed according to the principles of animal reduction)
31
Q
animal transportation: sending out (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- fill up the respective facility’s transfer form
- check that the animal details match the order of the buyer (strain/breed, conventional/SPF/axenic, health status, age & size of the mice)
- use an appropriate transport container, bedding & food and water
32
Q
animal transportation: receiving (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- disinfect cages at the receiving area (spray the outside of the cages)
- check for cracks/damages to the outer containers
- load cages onto trolley & push to quarantine room for arrival inspection
- perform the initial health check
- ensure order number and details of those ordered & those received match
- note any abnormalities or mortalities
- place animals into a new cage
33
Q
animal quarantine/conditioning (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- separate newly received animals from those already in the facility until their health & microbial status is determined
- minimising the chances of pathogens being introduced to the established colonies
- quarantine periods will vary based on species, source & health status
34
Q
how long must rodents spend in quarantine before procedures can be performed?
A
- 3 days (72h) to 1 week in quarantine before use in survival surgery or long term experiments
- non-survival/euthanasia can be performed on the day of arrival BUT note that transport stress can affect the results
35
Q
how long must non-rodents (e.g. cats/dogs/livestock) spend in quarantine before procedures can be performed?
A
- at least 3 days (72h) for non-survival/minor procedures
- at least 1 week before use in survival surgeries/chronic protocols
- euthanasia & tissue harvest can be performed on the day of arrival
36
Q
what does survival surgery/non-survival surgery mean?
A
- survival = animal will survive the surgery
- non-survival = animal will be euthanised afterward
37
Q
health monitoring (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- fresh faeces and swabs from the mucosal surface of the cheeks are collected from newly arrived animals
- if animals are already established in the facility, designated animals in each colony will be used for testing (sentinel animals)
- at least 1 cage of sentinel animals in 1 rack, minimum 1 male and 1 female
- samples are analysed by PCR to check for the presence/absence of any pathogens
38
Q
biological waste (solid/liquid/sharps) removal (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- solid waste disposed in biohazard bags with appropriate labels
- all lab specimens or materials/paper waste contaminated with biological tissues/fluids, inoculated media/cultures must be autoclaved before disposal
- used sharps in the sharps bin (puncture-resistant, tight fit lid)
- do not fill the sharps bin above the full line!
- liquid waste in closed, leakproof containers (CANNOT POUR DOWN THE SINK)
- for liquid waste, secondary containment is required. place a tray underneath the primary container!
39
Q
carcass removal (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- store carcasses in the chest freezer
- biohazard bags with label (species, date of death, number of animals in the bag, study number if applicable)
- there may be a file attached to the fridge to fill up as a tally at the end of the week/month
- contact the disposal vendor to come down and collect the carcasses
- freezer can be cleaned out & de-iced after the carcasses are collected
- liaise with the disposal vendor for collection BEFORE THE FRIDGE IS FULL
40
Q
daily record keeping (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- room logs (temperature, humidity, light intensity)
- animal checks (check if animals are injured/dead, abnormalities, if any action has been taken, refer to cage cards)
- equipment (damaged items, cages/bottles, any error messages on the machinery)
- entry and exit logs
41
Q
weekly/monthly record keeping (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- equipment maintenance log
- room maintenance log (checks of emergency shower, date with personnel name)
- refilling chemicals/consumables (must log out items from storage room)
- enrichment records
42
Q
ad-hoc record keeping (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- restricted drugs
- quarantine records (when animals arrive or leave)
- findings from audits
43
Q
maintenance (role of the laboratory technician)
A
- biological indicator testing of autoclaves (G. Thermophilus spores)
- testing of HVAC system
- automated environmental monitoring
- effectiveness of sanitation (RODAC/ATP bio-luminance detectors: see topic 5)
- annual testing of anaesthetic machine vaporisers
- annual testing/calibration of weighing machines
- preventative maintenance of BSC and ATS
44
Q
food (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- type of diet (if the protocol requires a special diet, it will be written down or made verbally known)
- if the wrong diet is fed, rectify immediately and notify the researcher
- whether treats are allowed and type, frequency, quantity of the treat if allowed
- place food on feeders or within the cages to allow for easy access & to minimise contamination with waste
- sufficient amount for ALL animals in the cage
- small volumes/opened bags can be stored within the room in a resealable & air-tight container
- if opened bags of food contain vitamin C/other light sensitive components, make sure to protect it from light to maintain the nutritional value
- food storage containers should not be transferred between areas that pose different contamination risks
45
Q
food - aquatic (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- store in an appropriate container to preserve nutritional content, minimise contamination & prevent entry of pests
- choose a feeding method where all animals can access food for a sufficient amount time
- an appropriate feeding method can minimise feeding aggression and nutrient loss
- aquatic species may not require free-choice or daily feeding
- live feed must be maintained & managed to ensure a steady supply
- the health and sustainability of feed needs to be ensured
46
Q
water & dosing of substances via water (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- unrestricted access unless otherwise specified by the IACUC protocol
- certain experiments may require substances to be dosed to the animal via water (e.g. gentamicin in gut microbiome studies)
- check the cage card and IACUC protocol number carefully! DON’T ANYHOW DOSE
- if the substance to be dosed is light sensitive, use a darkened bottle/wrap the bottle in foil
47
Q
water - aquatic (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- aquatic species requires appropriately conditioned water (tap water may contain chlorine or chloramines at levels that may be toxic)
- amphibians/reptiles may need bowls for soaking/drinking
- reptiles may require an additional UV/heat lamp
48
Q
physical methods to control pesticides & vermin (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- traps
- sticky boards in animal/feed rooms
- seal & regularly inspect pipelines/drains/air filters
- good housekeeping
- proper waste disposal
49
Q
chemical methods to control pesticides & vermin (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- pesticides
- take care that pesticides do not come into contact with animal’s food, water or bedding
- pesticides should only be administered by trained personnel
- follow the package instructions CLOSELY!
50
Q
HVAC (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- environmental (temperature/humidity) and space pressurisation control
- pressurisation can control airborne contamination and odours by providing directional airflow
- positive VS negative pressure
- relative humidity
- ensure to know check species you are setting for as the settings may vary between species (check card 19)
- system should be designed for reliability, ease of maintenance & energy conservation
- note that nude animals need higher temperature and humidity
51
Q
positive pressure
A
- air pressure inside the room is HIGHER than the corridor
- air travels from higher pressure to lower pressure
- air rushes OUT when the door is opened
- for clean rooms
- surgery room
- surgical prep room
- animal room (if axenic/SPF)
- food prep room
- treatment room (if clean)
52
Q
negative pressure
A
- air pressure inside the room is LOWER than the corridor
- air travels from higher pressure to lower pressure
- air rushes IN when the door is opened
- animal room (if conventional)
- necropsy rooms
- loading docks
- corridors (lower relative to the clean rooms. the others listed here are lower relative to the corridor)
- treatment (if dirty)
- isolation room (the corridor outside the isolation room is positive as there may be airborne diseases inside that should stay inside the room)
53
Q
redundancy in HVAC system: good or bad?
A
- GOOD!
- if the system breaks down, there is a spare unit ready to take over OR during maintenance when one unit has to be shut off for cleaning
- if there is no extra unit to replace it, the other units will have extra strain
- may cause an outage in the facility
- if the entire system is down, temperature & humidity rises until it can be fixed
- maintenance may take up to an entire day or more
- animals will be stressed
- basic husbandry cannot be done
- washing area will be humid = heat strokes
- condensation will form on the walls of feed and bedding storage room = growth of mould = contamination of feed and bedding
54
Q
call back (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- movement is from cleanest to dirtiest area
- only open cages in ATS/cage changing station/BSC
- daily animal checks (check food and water sources)
- spot cleaning of cages along with scheduled cleaning during husbandry
55
Q
bedding (husbandry: role of the laboratory technician)
A
- select the appropriate bedding (see topic 3)
- small volumes/opened bags can be stored within the room itself in a resealable, air-tight container in facilities
- a suitable amount of bedding must be provided, around 2cm
- sufficient for animals to express their normal behaviour (e.g. burrowing)
- for rodents: fresh bedding can be autoclaved/irradiated/sterilised within the clean cage
- for aquatic species: substrate requires routine syphoning to remove any organic debris
56
Q
sanitation
A
- maintaining environmental conditions conducive to health and well-being
- involves bedding change (when appropriate), cleaning & disinfection
- sufficiently clean & dry bedding
- air quality
- clean cage surfaces & accessories
- depends on what is necessary to provide a healthy environment for an animal
- sterilisation VS cleaning VS disinfection
57
Q
sterilisation VS cleaning VS disinfection
A
- STERILISATION: destruction of all organisms & their vegetative spores on a surface
- CLEANING: removes excessive amounts of excrement, dirt & debris
- DISINFECTION: reduces or eliminates unacceptable concentrations of microorganisms, may or may not kill the spores of the organisms
58
Q
frequency & intensity of cleaning/disinfection depends on…
A
- physiological &. behavioural characteristics of the animal
- species
- physical characteristics
- size of enclosure
- rate of soiling of the enclosure
- number of animals
- age of animals
- reproductive status
- type of bedding
- temperature & relative humidity
59
Q
cleaning of primary enclosures (cages), water bottles, feeders, tunnels, etc.
A
- chemicals, hot water (82°C) or both
- washing time, condition & any post-washing processes (e.g. sterilisation) are usually enough to reduce or eliminate vegetative forms of opportunistic pathogens
- chemical disinfectants or detergents may enhance the effectiveness (RINSE OFF PROPERLY)
- chemicals may be contraindicated for some aquatic species as their residue may kill the animal (CHECK BEFORE USING)
- for RABBITS, an extra step of cleaning with phosphoric acid may be needed to break down their urine before washing (their urine contains high concentrations of proteins & minerals)
60
Q
cleaning/washing of pens or runs
A
- need to be flushed with water at least once a day to remove any animal waste
- keep the animals as dry as possible during this process
- if hot water is being used, consider moving the animals to a temporary holding area to protect them from scalding
- disinfectants & detergents can be used periodically
- timing of flushing should take normal behaviour/physiological processes of animals into account (e.g. gastrocolic reflex in meal-fed animals like pigs results in defecation shortly after consumption of food)
61
Q
emergency preparedness
A
- unexpected conditions may result in catastrophic failure of critical systems or significant personnel absenteeism which may compromise ongoing animal care & well-being
- important part of the animal care & use program
- plans should identify leadership, essential personnel & procedures and communication strategies in the event of disrupted routine operations
- ensure the welfare & safety of animals and personnel
- includes animal relocation (and if not possible, considerations for euthanasia)
- includes cryopreservation to prevent loss
- plan should be reviewed and revised regularly
- needs to be current and updated.
62
Q
four phases when constructing a crisis plan
A
- risk assessment and mitigation
- preparedness
- response
- recovery
63
Q
phase 1: risk assessment and mitigation (constructing a crisis plan)
A
- types of potential threats
- prevention/control
- euthanasia of animals
- shelters for responders
64
Q
phase 2: preparedness (constructing a crisis plan)
A
- response training
- workshops
- chemical spill response
- tabletop exercise (ERPs/BCPs)
- live practice drills e.g. fire drills
65
Q
phase 3: response (constructing a crisis plan)
A
- personnel response
- incident command
- communication (call tree, Whatsapp group, etc)
66
Q
phase 4: recovery (constructing a crisis plan)
A
- going back to “normal” after a crisis
- animal and equipment replacement (if needed)
- personnel physical and mental health
- regulatory agencies (AVS, IACUC, etc.)
- materials and resources
67
Q
Emergency Response Plans (ERPs)
A
- fire response
- bomb threat
- power failure
- portable water
- aircon & mechanical ventilation response
- medical incident
- civil disorder
- flood/water leak
- severe weather/natural disasters
- infectious disease outbreak
- animal rights protests
68
Q
Business Continuation Plan (BCP)
A
- collection of resources, actions, procedures and information that is developed, tested & held in readiness for use in the event of major disruption of operations
- helps to minimise the impact of major disasters and other disruptions
- helps to return to normal operations as quickly as possible
- e.g. cryopreservation so that stock can be revived if something goes wrong
69
Q
emergency plan
A
- what to do before or during an emergency
70
Q
can wild-caught animals be used for experimental purposes?
A
- can!
- only if they are tested/treated to be clean
- however, they must be bred and only generation 1 of their offspring can be used for the experiment
