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Animal Ethics

ACEC:21
Approved July 1996

ANIMAL CARE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE

POLICY DOCUMENT

Entry of animals into approved protocols

1.0 INTRODUCTION

  1. State legislation requires:

    "…. that animals chosen for use in experimentation must be of appropriate species with suitable biological characteristics (including behavioural traits), genetic constitution and nutritional, microbiological and general health status."

    "…. when new animals are being admitted into animal holding areas, they should be quarantined and inspected by a qualified person. Their health should be evaluated, treatment instigated if required and their suitability for the proposed experiments assessed. This period also should allow their acclimatisation to the holding facility and the staff."

  2. If these principles are followed, it can be assured that:-
    1. animals entering an approved protocol are as healthy as possible;
    2. other healthy animals in the animal breeding and holding areas are not placed at risk;
    3. unknown variables are not introduced into the experiment; and
    4. the stress of experimentation does not result in the conversion of sub-clinical disease to clinical disease. (In this case the animal may begin to shed pathogens which may infect other animals.)
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2.0 SOURCE OF ANIMALS

2.1 Animals may be obtained from several different sources:
  1. a licensed animal supplier where health and microbiological status of the animals are known, e.g.
    1. some University of Newcastle Animal Houses; and
    2. Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animals from an external supplier.
  2. a licensed animal supplier where veterinary expertise is available, e.g. CULAS.
  3. a licensed animal supplier or an external source where veterinary expertise is not available, e.g.
    1. farms
    2. wild/native animals
(Species of animals obtained from these sources must be classified as "EXEMPT" under the legislation).

3.0 ORDERING OF ANIMALS

  1. All animals MUST be ordered through the Central Animal House. This is to ensure that they are obtained from an appropriate source, and are of appropriate health and microbiological status.
  2. If animals are not ordered through the Central Animal House, it is likely that they will not be accepted into the experimental protocol and will be returned to the supplier.
  3. As far as possible, animals must be of SPF quality.
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4.0 EXAMINATION OF ANIMALS PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO APPROVED PROTOCOLS

  1. General

    Upon receipt at a University animal house, animals must be checked by a trained animal technician. Should an animal show any signs of ill-health (unexplained by the specific strain of the animal) or injury, the matter must be referred to a veterinarian.

  2. SPF animals from a licensed animal supplier:
    1. All animals should have received a gross examination for health by a trained animal technician prior to dispatch from the supplier.
  3. Non-SPF animals from a licensed animal supplier where veterinary expertise is available:
    1. Prior to dispatch from the supplier, animals must have received a clinical examination for suitability for the particular research protocol. This examination should have included temperament as well as health. In addition, appropriate treatment and diagnostic tests must have been performed (e.g. deworming, faecal examination, vaccination, heartworm test).
    2. Within 2 working days of delivery of an animal, a clinical examination by a trained animal technician must be performed and medical history checked.
    3. Should the requirement for entry not be met (as outlined in 4.3.1):
      1. the appropriate procedures must be performed,
      2. the animal may be rejected as unsuitable for the proposed protocol,
      3. the commencement of the protocol may be delayed to allow for adequate examination and treatment.
    4. If not carried out by the licensed animal supplier prior to delivery, animals must be quarantined for a period of at least 7 days prior to their use in a research protocol.
  4. Animals from a licensed animal supplier or an external source where veterinary expertise is not available
    1. Within 2 working days of delivery, animals must receive an appropriate clinical examination by a veterinarian for suitability (temperament as well as health) for the proposed research protocol and treated as appropriate. In addition, appropriate treatment and diagnostic tests must be performed (e.g. vaccination, worming).
    2. Where possible (e.g. farms) appropriate examination and treatment of an animal should be arranged prior to its delivery to the University.
    3. There must be a quarantine period of at least 7 days prior to the use of the animal in the research protocol.
  5. Requirements for entry for particular species
See Appendix 1
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5.0 ACCLIMATISATION

  1. Where an animal is subjected to a significant change in environment (eg. free-living animals in cages, paddock animals in pens or cages, companion animals in laboratory situation), there must be a period of at least 7 days to allow the animal to acclimatise to its environment prior to its use in a research protocol. When appropriate, this acclimatisation period may occur during the quarantine period.
  2. When an animal does not acclimatise to its environment within the nominated time, this acclimatisation period should be extended or the animal removed from the experimental protocol, whichever is appropriate for that particular animal.

6.0 EXCEPTIONS

  1. Any exceptions to the requirements as outlined in this document for entry of animals into an approved protocol must receive PRIOR clearance from the Animal Care and Ethics Committee.
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APPENDIX 1 Requirements for entry for particular species

Species Requirements
Cat
  1. Vaccination:
    1. Feline calicivirus, panleukopaenia, rhino-tracheitis
    2. Leukaemia virus - when held long term
  2. Deworming
  3. Treat for ectoparasites
Dog
  1. Vaccination - distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza
  2. Heartworm negative - Antigen test
  3. Deworming
  4. Treat for ectoparasites
Free-living native and exotic animals See Section 5.0 - Acclimatisation
Guinea-pig Defined microbiological status
Mouse SPF only
Pig
  1. Vaccination for specific disease on arrival and then at 6 monthly intervals if the animal is not from a SPF source, and if from a herd which is positive for either
    1. Erysipelas
    2. Leptospirosis
    3. Parvovirus
  2. Treat for ectoparasites
  3. Deworming
  4. Check for and treat split hooves
Pigeon Advance order of at least 2 months to allow for testing for Chlamydia psittaci, with quarantine and treatment if results are positive
Rat SPF only
Sheep
  1. Vaccination - Enterotoxaemia, Tetanus, Black Disease, Malignant Oedema, Blackleg (5 in 1);
  2. Deworming. Because of high incidence of worm resistance, animals should be treated with ivermectin or moxidectin
  3. Shear and crutch if appropriate
  4. After shearing, tret for external parasites
  5. Foot paring if necessary; check for footrot or foot abscess
Wallaby
  1. Vaccination
    1. Enterotoxaemia, Tetanus, Black Disease, Malignant Oedema, Blackleg (5 in 1)
    2. Footrot ("Footvax")
  2. Deworming