Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

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The National Academies Press

Guide to the care and use of experimental animals, volume 2

This chapter addresses applications of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in health care facilities, including laboratories and animal or veterinary facilities. This chapter does not review the applicable guidelines or standards for air quality in these facilities, which typically do not mention UVGI, but the references and Chapter 11 may be consulted for more detailed information. The types of UV systems covered in this chapter have been addressed in detail in previous chapters and these designs are not revisited here. Instead, this chapter discusses the various applications of UV to the indicated facilities, how they have been applied in the past, what effectiveness they have previously demonstrated, and how new UV systems may be applied to reduce the microbiological hazards associated with each type of facility. Also addressed here are the types of pathogens that are unique to certain facilities and, in particular, nosocomial pathogens and the problem of increasing drug resistance.

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Health Care Facilities

Two consecutive generations of mice were raised at graded room temperatures ranging from 12 to 32 degrees C at intervals of 2 degrees C. The delivery rate decreased at 30 and 32 degrees C, and the litter size and weaning rate decreased above 28 degrees C. No significant difference was demonstrated within the 12-26 degrees C range for any reproduction parameters observed. The body weights of the first-generation mice born at 22 degrees C and transferred to rooms at assigned temperature did not significantly differ within the 14-28 degrees C range after 8 and 16 weeks of exposure. The second-generation mice born and reared at various temperature levels did not show significant inter-group difference in weight within the 20-26 degrees C range at any age in the growth period. No significant inter-group difference was observed within the 20-26 degrees C range in respect of food and water intakes in the second-generation mice. Hematological values and organ weights in the first and second generation mice of both sexes did not significantly differ in any parameter within the 20-26 degrees C range. The results suggest the temperature range of 20-26 degrees C to be optimal for laboratory mouse rooms.

Effects of Room Temperature on Reproduction, Body and Organ Weights, Food and Water Intakes, and Hematology in Mice

Maintenance of environmental quality for laboratory animals involves more than heat and moisture production of animals or room air changes per hour. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning of animal facilities allows control of room temperature and humidity, cage microenvironment, gaseous and particulate contamination, air distribution and diffusion, air quality and temperature differentials. However, other factors may influence environmental quality: population density, species of animals, and husbandry and sanitation practices. Because of all of these considerations, animal facilities tend to be energy intensive. Recommended environmental conditions are designed to satisfy physiological requirements of animals but prevent physiologic and psychophysiologic stresses. Analytical studies will provide necessary information to attain these goals and simultaneously reduce energy expenditures or minimize the need for expensive control systems.

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Papers

Environmental quality within animal facilities.