Question

what health monitoring in research is good in animals and why?

Answer 1

Q: what health monitoring in research is good in animals and why?

ANS; Health monitoring is good in research animal because a good state of health is an important part of the well-being of animals. Environment monitoring (temperature, humidity, noise, ammonia level, light intensity, etc) as well as regular health monitoring is important to find out whether the animals carry parasitic, viral and bacterial diseases. The monitoring at microbiological level is important to find out microbes that can cause diseases either for the animals themselves, for other species or for humans. Health monitoring is a good way to prevent diseases from spreading and to increase the general state of animal health.

The Animal Care and Ethics Committee (ACEC) reports to Council, the governing body of the University of Newcastle and is responsible for the consideration of ethical and welfare aspects as well as the scientific or educational value of the use of animals for research and teaching purposes.

Environment monitoring as well as Microbiological monitoring helps to prevent spreading of diseases from animal and keep the general state of animal health.

Animals are generally prone to bacterial, fungal and parasitic disease. Following parameters are used to evaluate animal health.

1) fecal examination for fecal egg count

2) fungal and parasitic examination through skin scraping (Most common)

3) blood smear (for hemoparasites)

4) serum for antibody titration

Most common diseases in laboratory animals are (not in order of importance):

Bacteria: Salmonella, Streptococcus, Pasteurella, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Bordetella, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Streptobacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Mycoplasma,and Corynebacterium.

Virus: Parvo, Corona, Papova, Pox, Paramyxo, Rota, Picorna, Hanta, Adeno and Citomegalovirus.

Parasites: Entamoeba, Giardia, Eimeria, Tritrichomonas, Toxoplasma (protozoas), Taenia (cestode), Trichinella, Syphacia (nematodes), Poliplax (lice), Radfordia, Notoedres (mites).

The number of animals to be sampled depend on two factors: size of colony and if there is already a disease. If there is a disease, calculate the level of infection and the level of confidence for sampling. Usually, full necropsy, and collect material for histopathology, fecal egg count, blood smear (for hemoparasites), skin scraping for fungal and parasitic diseases, serum for antibody titration (for a number of virus and bacteria), secretions (depend of what disease) for bacterial culture and isolation.