Standard Operating Procedures

Quarantine

Last updated: December 11, 2012

I. Purpose
Quarantine procedures are necessary for preventing the entry of disease into the established facilities as well as to separate animals that become sick from the general population. The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to describe the procedures for animal quarantine.

II. Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) Staff and the AV to inform investigators and animal users of quarantine procedures and to enforce those procedures for the protection of other animals in the facilities.

III. Procedures for Importation

• SPF mice and rats acquired from preferred commercial vendors (Jackson Labs, Taconic Labs, Charles River Labs) with well-defined specific pathogen-free (SPF) status will be accepted into any LAR facility without a quarantine period.
• All animals must have a minimum acclimation period of at least 72 hours before beginning use under an approved animal use protocol. Exceptions are sheep moved from the sheep farm to LAR for nonsurvival surgery and pairing of imported rodents for breeding.  These situations require a minimum 48-hour acclimation period.
• SPF mice or rats received from non-preferred sources (e.g., collaborating universities) with veterinary-approved health histories will be quarantined for 6 weeks in a cubicle room in Health Sciences Building 004. Dirty bedding from quarantined rodents will be autoclaved before disposed of in regular trash.
• Within the first 48 hours after entry, mice will receive the following:
  • Visual health check
  • Fur tape or fur pluck testing for ectoparasites (2 samples: 1 from head/shoulder blades, 1 from inguinal area)
  • Group swab for fur mite PCR testing when requested by the AV
  • Perianal tape test for pinworms
  • Fecal flotation for pinworms
  • Blood collection when requested by the AV
• When directed by the AV, mice will be fed fenbendazole-medicated food (150 ppm) to treat potential subclinical pinworm infection, treated with ivermectin (30 µl/adult) topically between the shoulder blades weekly for 3 weeks, and provided with 2-3 mitearrest® balls (7.4% permethrin) per mouse to treat for subclinical fur mite infestation.  Rats may be treated with either fenbendazole-medicated food or treated once weekly with ivermectin topically (50 µl/100 gm body weight) between the shoulder blades .
• Before approved for exit from quarantine (~6 weeks +/- 1 week), SPF mice and rats will receive the following:
  • Visual health check
  • Fur tape or fur pluck testing for ectoparasites
  • Perianal tape test for pinworms
  • Fecal flotation for pinworms
  • Blood collection for serology to the level of a basic panel from the University of Missouri Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Additional tests as requested by the AV based on test results or health history

IV. Procedures for Sick Animals

• Sick rodents will remain in their home cages (HEPA-filtered microisolator cages) and will be changed last during bedding or clean cage changes.
• Aquatic animals will be moved to a hospital tank or single-housing unit.
• Larger animals (e.g., rabbits, sheep) will be isolated in a separate housing room, housed alone, or returned to the farm.