Background

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, NRC 2011) states: “Quarantine is the separation of newly received animals from those already in the facility, in a way that prevents potential spread of contaminants, until the health and possibly the microbial status of the newly received animals have been determined.” (p. 110)

IACUC Policy

Rodents arriving to WSU from sources other than the approved commercial vendors (such as other universities) must undergo a quarantine period.  This protects the existing colony of rodents at WSU from inadvertent introduction of diseases.  

DLAR Veterinary Technical Services (DLARVTS) must be contacted to coordinate the importation of animals from non-approved sources. Requests to receive animals from non-approved sources will be reviewed by a DLAR veterinarian.  Based on the husbandry standards, health monitoring, and outbreak history of the shipping institution, imports most commonly will enter DLAR’s rodent quarantine. Select shipments from transgenic or rederivation cores may be of a high enough health status to bypass quarantine. Rarely, some shipments may be denied. In these cases, DLAR veterinarians will work with laboratory to find alternative solutions to obtain the animals (rederivation, other sources).

Rodents to be imported must be approved on the IACUC protocol with their source listed. Please note that IACUC approval does not guarantee DLARVTS approval which may be granted after review of the shipping institution’s husbandry practices and health monitoring history.

DLAR excludes the following mouse pathogens: fur mites (Myocoptes musculinus, Myobia musculi, and Radfordia affinis), pinworms (Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera), EDIM/Rotavirus, Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV), Mouse Minute Virus (MMN/MVM), Mouse parvovirus (MPV), Sendai virus, Theilovirus, (TMEV), and Mycoplasma pulmonis. Helicobacter spp. and Corynebacterium bovis are excluded from select locations.

DLAR excludes the following rat pathogens: fur mites (Radfordia ensifera), pinworms (Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, and Aspiculuris tetraptera), Kilham Rat Virus (KRV), Pneumonia Virus (PVM), Rat Coronavirus/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (RCV/SDAV), Rat Minute Virus (RMV), Rat Parvovirus (RPV), Rat Theilovirus (RTV), Sendai Virus, Toolan’s H-1 Virus, Pneumocystis carinii, and Mycoplasma pulmonis.

DLARVTS will work with the labs to develop an individualized plan for rodents to be imported from institutions affected by any of the excluded pathogens. This may include additional testing, treatment, extended quarantine, and/or rederivation.

Rodents are quarantined on average for 6 weeks in a dedicated quarantine facility in the Applebaum vivarium. During this time labs will not have access to their animals and DLAR will provide all care. All rodents are prophylactically treated for parasites using fenbendazole (Napa Nectar Plus gels) and Mite Arrest (environmental treatment). Exclusions may be made upon request for sensitive strains. The shipment is tested directly for parasites (pelt swab and fecal sample) and dirty bedding sentinels are used to screen for additional pathogens. Once all testing is negative, animals may be released from quarantine.

Breeding is allowed in quarantine if approved on the IACUC protocol and requested via DLARVTS. Genotyping and identification methods should be completed after release from quarantine.

Abbreviated quarantines are considered by DLARVTS on a case-by-case basis for study timeline necessity only. Reduced per diem costs and ease of study will not be considered. IACUC approval does not guarantee DLARVTS approval as the IACUC is not charged with the health of the rodent colonies on campus. Imported rodents still receive prophylactic treatment and are directly tested for pathogens of greatest concern. Please note that shipping institutions with a history of recent outbreaks or insufficient health monitoring will not be approved for abbreviated quarantines.

Created: June 2024