Microbiological contamination of laboratory mice and rats in Korea from 1999 to 2003.

To survey the microbiological contamination of laboratory mice and rats in Korea during a 5-year period, we monitored animals housed in mouse and rat facilities with either barrier or conventional systems. At barrier and conventional mouse facilities, the most important pathogen identified was mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), while Mycoplasma pulmonis was the most important pathogen at conventional rat facilities. Interestingly, hantavirus was recovered from both barrier and conventional mouse facilities. The most common protozoon identified was Tritrichomonas muris in mouse facilities and Entamoeba muris in rat facilities. In addition, we found that the microbiological contamination of mice and rats in conventional facilities was severe. These results suggest that conventional facilities should be renovated and monitored regularly to decrease microbiological contamination. We also propose that hantavirus should be monitored in Korea as an important mouse pathogen.