Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Auditing laboratory rodent biosecurity programs

  • Resource
  • Published:
Lab Animal

Abstract

A rodent biosecurity program that includes periodic evaluation of procedures used in an institution's vivarium can be used to ensure that best practices are in place to prevent a microbial pathogen outbreak. As a result of an ongoing comprehensive biosecurity review within their North American and European production facilities, the authors developed a novel biosecurity auditing process and worksheet that could be useful in other animal care and use operations. The authors encourage other institutions to consider initiating similar audits of their biosecurity programs to protect the health of their laboratory animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, National Research Council. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edn 109 (National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011).

  2. USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. NAHEMS Guidelines: Biosecurity (United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 2013). http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/ nahems_guidelines/fadprep_nahems_guidelines_biosecurity.pdf.

  3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Biosecurity in Food and Agriculture. Committee on Agriculture, Seventeenth Session. Rome, Italy, 31 March–4 April 2003. http://www.fao.org/biosecurity.

  4. Baker, D.G. Natural Pathogens of Laboratory Animals: Their Effects on Research Ch. 2 (ASM Press, Washington, DC, 2003).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Fox, J.G. et al. (eds.) Laboratory Animal Medicine 2nd edn (Academic, San Diego, CA, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Committee on Infectious Diseases of Mice and Rats, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. Infectious Disease of Mice and Rats (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 1991).

  7. Venkatesan, P.S. Biosecurity in the laboratory animal facility. ALN World 4, 8–13 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  8. McEntee, H.I. & Sandgren, E.P. A tool for semiannual review of the institutional animal care and use program. Lab Anim. (NY) 36, 36–40 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Avian Biosecurity Advisory Council. National Avian On-Farm Biosecurity Standard (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Office of Animal Biosecurity, Ottawa, Canada, 2009). http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/biosec/aviafrme.shtml.

  10. Chin, R.P. et al. Intervention strategies for laryngotracheitis: impact of extended downtime and enhanced biosecurity auditing. Avian Dis. 53, 574–577 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William P. Porter.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porter, W., Horn, M., Cooper, D. et al. Auditing laboratory rodent biosecurity programs. Lab Anim 42, 427–431 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.409

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.409

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

Navigation