Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts;, Email:
J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2022 Jul 1;61(4):353-360. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000036. Epub 2022 Jul 15.
Vivarium husbandry practices are based on performance data and adhere to applicable regulatory guidelines. Refinements in husbandry and optimization of sanitization protocols improve animal wellbeing and help standardize the microenvironment, contributing to research reproducibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microenvironment to establish performance standards for mouse husbandry and sanitization, including housing at standard and thermoneutral temperatures. Male C57BL/6J mice were housed singly and in groups in disposable IVCs on α-cellulose or corncob bedding and microenvironmental indicators (ammonia, carbon dioxide) were evaluated. In addition, microbial bioburden tests (ATP and RODAC) were performed on cages and cage accessories on days 0, 7, 14 and, 28 to 30 after cage change. Water testing and aerobic culture of the waterspout of bottles containing chlorinated water were performed to determine acceptable replacement schedules. Ammonia levels remained below the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 8-h recommended exposure limit for humans (25 ppm) at all time points for all housing conditions through day 21 for group-housed mice, and through day 30 for singly housed mice. Microbial bioburden results for cage accessories and water testing were acceptable up to 28 d after cage change (RODAC less than 50 CFU; ATP less than 100,000 RLU) at both standard and thermoneutral housing temperatures. Mice remained clinically healthy throughout the studies. These results support site operating practices and verify extended sanitization recommendations per the in this disposable IVC environment: group-housed mice receive bottom cage and water bottle change up to every 14 d with full cage change (including lid and accessories) every 28 d, and singly housed mice receive full cage change every 28 to 30 d or sooner.
饲养室的管理实践基于性能数据，并遵守适用的监管指导方针。饲养管理的改进和消毒方案的优化可以提高动物福利，并有助于标准化微环境，从而提高研究的可重复性。本研究的目的是评估微环境，为小鼠饲养和消毒建立性能标准，包括在标准和热中性温度下饲养。雄性 C57BL/6J 小鼠单独饲养或分组饲养在一次性 IVC 笼中，使用 α-纤维素或玉米芯垫料，并评估微环境指标（氨、二氧化碳）。此外，在更换笼具后的第 0、7、14 和 28-30 天，对笼具和笼具配件进行微生物生物负荷测试（ATP 和 RODAC）。对含有氯化水的瓶中的水进行测试和需氧培养，以确定可接受的更换时间表。在所有饲养条件下，氨水平在所有时间点均低于国家职业安全与健康研究所建议的人类 8 小时暴露限值（25 ppm），组饲养小鼠持续到第 21 天，单饲养小鼠持续到第 30 天。 cage accessories 和水测试的微生物生物负荷结果在 cage change 后 28 天内是可接受的（RODAC 小于 50 CFU；ATP 小于 100,000 RLU），在标准和热中性温度下均如此。在整个研究过程中，小鼠保持临床健康。这些结果支持现场操作实践，并验证了在这种一次性 IVC 环境中延长消毒建议的合理性：group-housed mice 每 14 天更换一次底笼和水瓶，每 28 天更换一次完整笼具（包括盖子和配件），而单饲养小鼠则每 28-30 天或更早更换一次完整笼具。
