University Animal Care Users' Handbook |
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2.2.1. Animal-Related Policies
2.2.1.1. Environmental Enhancement Plan for Macaca Mulata (Rhesus Macaques)
In compliance with Federal Rules (USDA, 1991, section 3.81), each nonhuman primate user must have a detailed environmental enhancement plan. Generally, this consists of a variety of toys, cage additions, and foraging devices to provide stimulation for the monkey. In addition, perches, viewing windows, and grooming ports may be used. Exceptions: Monkeys that have received surgical implants are singly housed to prevent damage to the device.
None of the monkeys are exempt from the Environmental Enrichment Program.
2.2.1.2 Euthanasia of animals left in necropsy
Room 1220 COM and room 252 CAF are the necropsy rooms. Rodent euthanasia is covered in the per diem rates, thus UAC euthanizes rodents without direct charge. For all other species, researchers are recharged for supplies used. Investigators may terminate their own animals after they have been trained on the operation of the CO2 chamber Please see the facility supervisor for instruction.
Once an animal has been placed into a necropsy room it may not be retrieved and once again placed in a regular animal room as the health status of these animals is no longer known. At no time are animals to be taken out of this area and utilized for experimentation.
2.2.1.3. Radios in Animal Facilities
No radios are allowed in the animal rooms, surgery rooms, or procedure rooms. Radios are permitted in offices only. The only exception is for animal rooms in which radios or sound systems are used as “white noise” to decrease barking and increase production in rodent colonies and decrease rodent cannibalization.
Background: With a growing number of investigators utilizing breeding colonies to develop/obtain appropriate animal models, it has become increasingly difficult not only to assure that all animals are being managed appropriately, but also to accurately account for animal numbers. Additionally, if individual litters are not weaned in a timely manner, production of the breeding colony can be drastically affected by overcrowding, cannibalism, and a general deterioration of cleanliness in individual pans housing multiple unweaned litters. University Animal Care has established breeding colony SOPs which assure breeding colony maintenance that is reasonably expected to avoid these problems. In an effort to address these issues the following standards have been established:
Policy: Ideally, investigators should utilize the services of University Animal Care to maintain their breeding colony. However, in the event an individual investigator wishes to maintain their own colony, and they have received authorization to do so during IACUC review of their breeding protocol, they must assure that litters are weaned in a timely and age appropriate manner (19-28 days depending on strain). That is, prior to or immediately after the birth of a new litter by the same dam. If UAC personnel find a new litter in a pan, they will separate the older litter and the investigator will be recharged for technician time.
Harem breeding: No more than two females shall be housed together AND allowed to litter in a pan (cage). A maximum of three females can be mated with a mate in a pan. However, one female must be removed from the pan before the other females begin to litter. No more than one litter will be allowed per pan. (See Enforcement Policy).
Enforcement:
UAC personnel will intervene as necessary to enforce the standards of the policy and the investigator will be recharged for services as appropriate.
The IACUC will be notified of policy violations.
Investigators who repeatedly violate the policy and allow their cages to become overcrowded (more than one litter per pan at a time) will required to go to single breeding pair housing and will be responsible for the accompanying costs of doing so.
Background: AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation recommended that institutions review their use of wire-bottom caging for rodents and limit to only those cases where scientifically justified.
General Policy: Wire-bottom caging is discouraged for general use. Assignment of animals to wire-bottom cages will be at the discretion of University Animal Care with input from the investigator. Any animals that are put in wire-bottom cages will be monitored for foot lesions.
Exceptions: Due to specific aspects of research projects, some investigators request and are allowed to use wire-bottom caging. Some examples are listed below:
Toxicology Studies: Eliminates the ingestion of bedding
Diabetes Studies: Prevents animals from laying in urine soaked bedding.
Special Diets: Allows for the collection of “wasted” feed.
Survival Surgery: Assures that bedding will not contaminate surgical sites.
Metabolic Studies: Allows for collection of feces.
All mammalian-species animal bites must be reported to the Assistant Director, extension 626-2055 or the South Campus Supervisor, 621-1621. UAC contacts the Pima County Animal Control Center, and quarantines the animal for a specified period of time. At the end of the quarantine period, Animal Control sends a report to the bite victim, informing them whether the animal passed the quarantine and is negative for rabies. Bite victims should also report to The Occupational Health Clinic for treatment of wounds and examination by a physician.
As laboratory animals carry diseases or allergens that may cause illness in man or other animals, it is prudent to wear some form of protective clothing while in the animal facility. A lab coat, coveralls, or scrub suit can provide adequate protection.
Shoe covers should be worn at all times while in the animal facilities and discarded before leaving. Shoe covers are available in each facility. Special protective clothing is required in all primate rooms. Instructions will be posted on each door, and must be followed.
If working with known biological or other hazards, you should check with Risk Management, or UAC personnel for additional precautions.
No food or drink is allowed in the animal rooms, laboratories, or hallways. Food in closed containers may only be taken into facility offices or break rooms for consumption.
2.2.2.4 Precautions for Handling Nonhuman Primates
Prior to handling nonhuman primates, personnel must contact a UAC supervisor to discuss the special precautions for handling these species. Required nonhuman primate restraint, safety precautions and human health status are discussed in UAC's standard operating procedures manual.
No smoking is allowed in CAF and the AHSC complex. This includes all animal facilities, offices, break rooms, the College of Medicine and University Medical Center.
Animal Care provides shoe covers and gloves for use while in the animal facility. Food and bedding are provided for animals under the care of UAC personnel. Animals housed in satellite facilities which are cared for by individual investigators must be recharged for animal-related supplies as they are not being inventoried. At no time are investigators allowed to take containers of food and bedding from the main animal facilities unless it has been cleared through the UAC management. All bedding and food are accounted for and factored into per diem costs. Investigators while in the animal facility may use stainless steel carts belonging to UAC. At no time does this equipment leave the facility. Animal Care does not provide sheets to cover animals, clothing (other than special clothing required by specific animal rooms), lab coats, drugs, reagents, chemicals, blood collection and microbiological supplies for free. These items may be purchased if necessary, but they will be marked-up to cover administrative costs. UAC also does not provide cages, bedding, food, water bottles and containers to private animals.
ANIMAL SCOOP is UAC’s listserve where information regarding changes in policies, disease information updates and other information is provided to researchers. To subscribe, please call 626-6702 or click here.
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