[Facilities, equipment, and biohazards].

The high quality of laboratory animals, the precise and proper humane treatment of animals and the well-controlled environments are the three essential factors for animal experimentation. The defect or disturbance of any of these factors might be a common causation of so-called biohazards, such as a sporadic occurrence of epidemic hemorrhagic fever in Japan. The caging or housing systems, which is the most essential part for proper functioning of animal facilities, were described. In the uninfected animal areas, the air-conditioning system was designed to isolate each room and separate it from unrestricted space in the facility. In the areas for the experimentally infected animals, it was designed to protect the infection among the experimental animals or investigators. The systems of safety handling equipments, containments of infectious agents, and disposal of contaminant materials were discussed. Finally, it was emphasized that the researchers have to be for the protection against the biohazards throughout animal experimentation.