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Harlan Health Reporting |
Rodent and Rabbit Health Monitoring Procedures
Harlan is committed to providing high quality animals to the research community. Our health testing program is designed to ensure we meet the standards we have set for our models. Harlan maintains microbiologically defined rodent and rabbit colonies within maximum security production barriers and flexible-film isolators. Harlan-designed test profiles are utilized to monitor the colonies for pathogenic and opportunistic flora. Details regarding the profile test parameters are available upon request. Immunocompetent rodents from each maximum security rodent production barrier are evaluated every month, with a minimum of six animals submitted per room. On a quarterly basis, weanlings are evaluated in addition to breeders/adults. Colony residents, as well as sentinel animals, are utilized for testing. Animals are selected for testing at random from throughout the colonies, from different cages (no more than one animal per cage), from different areas and racks throughout the rooms, and from sentinel cages housed on the bottom shelf nearest the exhaust. Immunodeficient rodents housed in flexible-film isolators are routinely tested on a quarterly basis. Both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and rats are submitted for health testing. In addition to standard comprehensive health testing, immunodeficient mice are tested for Corynebacterium bovis and Pneumocystis murina and immunodeficient rats are tested for Pneumocystis carinii. Harlan’s New Zealand White rabbits are produced in a maximum security production barrier facility specifically designed to maintain and produce pathogen-free rabbits. Six adult rabbits are randomly selected from the colony and submitted for health monitoring every two months. Additionally, two weanlings are submitted semi-annually for testing. Harlan’s rabbit colony has consistently tested negative for Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida since establishment. Diagnostic Laboratory: Harlan utilizes a third party, Missouri University Research Animal Diagnostic and Investigative Laboratory (RADIL), as the primary laboratory for routine health monitoring. Clinical evaluations are performed on all animals submitted for testing. Animals are given a thorough physical examination. Necropsy procedures include a gross examination of tissues, organs, and systems. Abnormal discharges and other inflammatory processes are examined by culture and/or molecular diagnostic techniques (e.g. PCR), and organs or tissues with evidence of abnormal gross pathology are examined using histopathology. Histopathologic examinations include the following which are performed as part of our routine health monitoring program: (1) Rats: Lungs from 8-20 week old animals are evaluated for the presence of Idiopathic Lung Lesions/Rat Respiratory Virus as a component of our quarterly testing profile. Histologic evaluation of the urinary bladder is also performed as part of our annual testing profile. (2) Mice: Histologic evaluation of the kidneys is performed as part of our annual testing profile. (3) Hamsters: The ileocecal junction is examined histologically on a quarterly basis. Microbiology procedures are used to monitor the effectiveness of the barriers as well as animal health. Aerobic and 7% carbon dioxide cultures of nasopharynx and aerobic cultures of cecum are examined for the presence of pathogens and opportunistic bacteria. Additionally, Mycoplasma pulmonis, CAR bacillus, and Clostridium piliforme are monitored serologically and Corynebacterium bovis and Streptobacillus moniliformis are monitored using PCR. Harlan considers the following bacteria significant in immunocompetent animals and they are reported on all health monitoring summaries: Citrobacter rodentium, Clostridium piliforme, Corynebacterium kutscheri, Helicobacter spp, Mycoplasma pulmonis, Pasteurella pneumotropica, Salmonella spp, Streptobacillus moniliformis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Additionally, Harlan considers the following bacteria significant in immunocompromised models: Citrobacter rodentium, Clostridium piliforme, Corynebacterium bovis, Corynebacterium kutscheri, , Helicobacter spp, Mycoplasma pulmonis, Pasteurella pneumotropica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptobacillus moniliformis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The presence of these agents will result in the immediate termination of the production flexible-film isolator. Parasitologic evaluations are performed for pathogenic and nonpathogenic ectoparasites and endoparasites. The pelage is evaluated for mites and lice. Jejunal and cecal contents and perianal cellophane tape impressions are evaluated for helminths and protozoa. Serologic evaluations are performed on immunocompetent animals and primarily utilize MFI and ELISA, and secondarily IFA. Dr. Karla Stevens |
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