OAR: Office of Animal Resources-Homepage-MU-Columbia

The housing systems and procedures for entering each facility are based on a graduated scale of three categories (B, C, and D) with the highest level (B) requiring the most stringent procedures. Lower levels have less rigorous operational requirements. As you progress from B to D, procedures to enter the facilities become less rigid. Individual room designations are used to determine traffic flow within and between animal facilities. While it may be necessary for some investigators to maintain their animals at more than one level, this practice is discouraged since it increases the risk of cross-contamination. If you work in multiple facilities, or have multiple rooms, it is vital that you never work with animals from a lower-level category before working with animals from a higher-level category. Laboratories that may temporarily house rodents have the same classification as the animal room from which the rodents came. If you have entered a laboratory that occasionally houses animals from a low-level classification, you should not enter a higher classified animal room on the same day. Likewise, shared procedure rooms should have the same level classification as the least clean animals used in that procedure room.

ROOM CLASSIFICATION

Level B

Barrier housed animals. Rodents must test negative for al all pathogens on the RADIL comprehensive necropsy including bacteriology plus Helicobacter PCR. Entry into a B room is prohibited if an individual has had previous contact with animals of a lower health status within the previous 24 hrs unless s/he has showered and changed clothes.

Purpose bred animals considered to be SPF. This classification is based on vendor health reports, in house testing, and/or veterinary examination.

Level C

Barrier or conventionally housed rodents. These animals are negative for endo and ectoparasites and all pathogens tested on RADIL’s clinical serology. They may harbor opportunistic pathogens such as Helicobacter sp. or Pasteurella pneumotropica. Entry is prohibited if an individual has had previous contact with animals of a lower health status within the previous 24 hrs unless s/he has showered and changed clothes.

Purpose bred animals which are not SPF but whose health status is not considered a threat to other animals of the same species.

Level D

Barrier or conventionally housed rodents. These animals have tested positive for one or more of the pathogens in the RADIL clinical serology profile (MHV, MMV, MPV, Sendai, M. pulmonis, TMEV, and EDIM for mice and RCV, Sendai, PVM, Parvo, M. pulmonis, and TMEV for rats). Level D status is also given to any rodent with pinworms or furmites, rodents that are in quarantine, and rodents experimentally infected with most rodent infectious agents.

Animals which are known to be infected with a pathogen, come from a facility which is not biosecure, or have potential for exposure to pathogens, such as dogs walked outside. Quarantined animals are included in this classification.

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