LAR Standard Operating Procedures
Animal Transport
Last updated: March 12, 2012
Commercial vendors sending rodents usually ship animals to Seattle via air and then transport to UM in the vendor’s environmentally-controlled truck. Xenopus and zebrafish are transported through the U.S. Postal Service. Dwarf hamsters and rabbits are usually shipped by air to Missoula or Bozeman, MT and delivered by a local delivery service contracted by World Courier or Midnight Express from Bozeman. Animals shipped between UM and other institutions are transported by commercial carrier. World Courier is usually used for transport. All animal delivery companies are approved delivery service providers. LAR will only allow entrance of animals from institutions that can provide information about the genetic and pathogen status of the animals in question. The AV reviews all animal health records in advance of approving shipments of animals.
Zebrafish were obtained from a closed colony at The University of Colorado and trout eggs come directly from the fish hatchery. Trout may develop to the fry stage and are then euthanized. Adult Betta splendens are purchased from a local pet store as adults and are placed singly in a static tank for behavior testing. There is no breeding and Betta splendens fish are adopted at the end of the study.
Sheep are transported by the farm owner about 7 miles to the university in a standard stock trailer without environmental control.
Wild hares may be trapped and transported from the field to a UM laboratory in small covered kennels in the back of a covered pickup without environmental control (about 90 miles). The kennels are kept covered and are carried from the parking lot to the PIs research laboratory in HSB for immediate euthanasia of the hares. Deer mice may be trapped and transported in their covered traps in the back of a covered pickup truck to UM (1-15 miles) for brief testing and release back to the point of capture. Wild birds may be captured and transported in covered cages in a covered pickup truck for testing at the Field Research Station at Fort Missoula. After testing, birds are released at their point of capture.
For all species, whether SPF, conventional, or wildlife, all appropriate regulations and permits for transport are followed or obtained.
Non-infected animals may be transported in their covered cages through public hallways and elevators. Cages are lightly misted with MB-10 and placed on a rolling cart and covered with a clean lab coat or drape for transport. The cart and wheels are sprayed with MB-10 before entering or exiting the animal facilities
It is the responsibility of the LAR Staff to accept animals from carriers, to do the required paperwork and filing, and to let the investigator(s) know their animals have arrived.
Procedure
- Sign for the animals from City Transfer or another delivery service.
- Write name of investigators on the delivery receipt.
- Put receipt in supervisor's box.
- Record species, number of animals, date, company and investigator in Transportation Log (Health Science Office)
- Find the copy of the order form on Ordering Clipboard (Health Science Office)
- Make sure it matches the animals received.
- File in "Animal Order Forms Received" file in cabinet of Health Science Office.
- Locate Packing Slip on the animal boxes received.
- Make sure it matches the order form and what was received.
- Place top copy (white) in supervisor's box and bottom (pink) copy in "Packing Slip" File (Health Science Building).
- Place Health Records in "Animal Health Certificate" file (Health Science Building), if applicable.
- USDA animal health records are placed in USDA Records notebook and species-specific animal health records notebook.
- Call investigator(s) to let them know animal has arrived and record phone call in phone log.
- Non-infected animals may be transported in their covered cages through public hallways and elevators. Cages are lightly misted with MB-10 and placed on a rolling cart and covered with a clean lab coat or drape for transport. The cart and wheels are sprayed with MB-10 before entering or exiting the animal facilities.
