Laboratory Animals For Research

Laboratory Animals for research In India about 20 lakh animals are used every year in scientific research, lowering various aspects of biomedical and veterinary sciences pharmaceutical , food, drugs and cosmetic industries also use a number of animal species for efficacy , safety and toxicity testing for efficacy , safety and toxicity testing. To obtain authentic results of the research experiments and tests it is important to have standardized animals with known health and genetic status. The animals of unknown origin are prone to give erroneous results which are not always repeatable .The scientists must therefore insists upon getting defined animals through organized animal houses where the animals are maintained scientifically. Taking into consideration the health status of an animal colony it could be called convenctional , specific pathogen free (SPF) or germ free. The germ free or gnotobiotic animals are used for every scientific research work only. The SPF animals are ideal for use in research, but their maintenance and monitoring requires sophisticated housing facility and testing laboratories .However, the clean conventional colonies are acceptable for most of research and testing provided these are free from a known genetic stock. Beside random breed animals which are used for genetic studies there are a number of inbred strains of rodents available which can be used for many specialized studies based on their genetic make up. For any scientific research the selection of right type of animal is therefore essential ,such defined animals should be obtained only from organized animal houses where animals are bred and maintained under scientific discipline. A number of visible and invisible factors affect the physiology, bahaviour and health of the animal which vary often and interfere with the experimental responses and provide unreliable results. The animals therefore need careful breeding and maintainance The breeding and care of laboratory animals is a synthesis of scientific and ethical consideration for the animal and involve a number of basic study areas , such as 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Housing and environment Breeding and genitics Nutrition and feeding hygine and disease control personal and management records and management

HOUSING AND ENVIORNMENT

Lab animals are very sensitive to the living conditions and therefore they are housed naway from habitatious not exposed to dust, smoke,noise,wild rodents,insects and birds. In planning a animal house the space should be well divided for various activities. The animal rooms should occupy 50 to 60 % of the total constructed areas and the remaining areas should be utilized for services such as stores ( 8-10%) machine room (45%)quartine and corridors (12-15%). The cages should be made of suitable metal(stainless steel or galvanized iron sheet) or synthetic material (polypropylene/polycarbonate) or suitable size for each species of animals, and should have arrangement for feeding and watering. The cages must be free from crevices, corners and sharp edges for easy cleaning and to avoid injury. The environment of animal room (macro-environment) and animal range(micro-environment) is most important factor on which the production and experimental efficacy of the animals depends. The following norms are recommended in general for animal room environment. Temperature-22c Humidity-50-60% Light-300 Lux at floor level with regular 12 hr light cycle. Noise-50 decibel intensity avoid sharpness and sudden noise Ventilation-10-15 air changes/hour BREEDING AND GENETICS For initiating a breeding colony the breeding stock must be procured from a reliable/accredited source ensuring that their genetic make up and health status is know. In case of an inbred generation must be know for futher propagation. Beside genetic status the health status and nutritional status of the animals should also be known. Mutations or genetic contamination can be detected by using screening methods , such as histo-compatibility (skin grafting), biochemical markers ,coat colour studies ,mandibular biometry or immunological studies. The inbred strains are important and useful models in many immunological investigations and other biomedical researchers. They need careful breeding to avoid any genetic contamination which may spoil the inbred line. NUTRITION AND FEEDING The results of an experimental are certainly influenced by the nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. It is therefore, essential that laboratory animals are maintained on a balanced diet based on nutritional requirements of each species. Special care is needed on nutritional elements, ingredients used in diet, and feeding practices. Following points are important. • Balanced diet • Quality

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Quantity Palatability Additives Keeping quality Presentation

HYGIENE AND DISEASE CONTROL When initiating a new colony the building should be provided with barriers to control the entry of contaminations into the building through men, materials and wild agents such as rodents ,birds and insects .the animal rooms should then be cleaned decontaminated and fumigated along with empty cages and racks in the rooms .It must be ensured that no contamination should enter into the animal room with staff and other material such as food, air , equipment etc. Strict barriers should be provided to avoid the entry of wild rodents, birds, insects and pests .Visitors and service staff should be allowed entry with care necessary. On the exit side an efficient monitoring service is established to monitoring service is established to monitor the prevalence of any infection in the colony .This is done by regular medical check up of the staff and animals including microbiological examination .Cultures should be made from postmortem organs of dead and sacrificed animals and waste material of the rooms including exit air .All dead animals and waste should be properly disposed off/ incenerated . A diagrammatic representation shows controls and monitoring of an animal colony.