Animal management

　Regarding animal management methods, please refer to the following.

　Staff manage experimental animals to prevent infection with disease so that correct experimental data can be obtained quickly.

Animal care area divisions

　The Animal Facility is divided as shown below. The isolation level for pathogenic microorganisms is different for each area.
　The area on the right has a high isolation level and strict care is required in regards to use.
　
　For details, please refer here.

Animal care management

　Each area in which animals are cared for is kept clean by Animal Facility staff who give food and water, change cages, and apply disinfectant.
　The management policies common to each area are listed below.

1. Feed
   The feed used is prepared at the Animal Facility. It is replenished weekly by Animal Facility staff when cages are changed.
2. Water
   UV-treated water is used (for automatic water supply).
3. Changing cages
   Sterile bedding and cages are used and cages are changed every week (for mice and rats).
   At the same time, animal health is observed and animals are checked for signs of any suffering due to serious infections.
   
4. Cleaning
   The animal care room is wiped down with disinfectant weekly at the same time that cages are changed.
   The halls of the Animal Facility are also regularly wiped down.
5. Environment
   In regards to the environment (such as temperature and humidity) provided by facility equipment, see here for details.
6. Estimation of animal care expenses
   In order to calculate costs for animal care support by facility staff such as changing cages, etc. (animal care management duties), the number of cages used by researchers is checked daily.

　Consultations regarding changes to animal care style or special feeding methods should be addressed to facility staff or to the following email address.
　cardadmikumamoto-u.ac.jp
　->Contact List (Internal University use only)

Regulation of pathogenic microorganisms

Monitoring

　Infection of facility animals is monitored according to the following steps.

1. Inspection of monitored animals (for mice)
2. Initial inspection and quarantine of received and unloaded animals.
3. Observation of clinical symptoms during care management of large animals
4. Observation by facility staff during animal care management
5. Quarantine of cells and biological formulations brought to the Animal Facility

Main inspected items

	Mice	Rats	Dogs	Monkeys	Cells	Inspection methods (Inspected area)	Inspection frequency
Mycoplasma pulmonis	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISAa/IFAb (blood samples), cultures (trachea, laryngopharynx)	12d
Bordetella bronchiseptica	−	Yes	−	−	−	cultures (trachea, laryngopharynx)	4
Brucella canis	−	−	Yes	−	−	cultures (blood)	upon arrival only
CAR  bacillus	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	1
Citrobacter rodentium	Yes	−	−	−	−	cultures (Caecal content)	4
Clostridium piliforme	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	12
Corynebacterium kutscheri	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	cultures (trachea, laryngopharynx, Caecal content)	4
Helicobacter hepaticus	Yes	−	−	−	−	PCRc (feces)	4
Pasteurella pneumotropica	Yes	−	−	−	−	cultures (trachea/laryngopharynx, vaginal swab)	4e
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	cultures (Caecal content)	4e
Salmonella spp.	Yes	Yes	−	Yes	−	cultures (Caecal content, feces (monkeys))	4(monkeys: when needed)
Staphylococcus aureus	Yes	−	−	−	−	cultures (Caecal content)	4e
Streptococcus pneumoniae	−	Yes	−	−	−	cultures (trachea/laryngopharynx)	4
B virus	−	−	−	Yes	−	ELISA (blood sample)	outsourced upon arrival only
Ectromelia virus	Yes	ー	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	4
Lymphocytic chorimeningitis virus	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	IFA (blood sample)	1
Mouse adenovirus	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	4
Mouse hepatitis virus・SDAV	Yes	Yes	−	−	Yes	ELISA/IFA (blood sample), PCR (feces, cells)	12
Pneumonia virus of mice	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	1
Sendai virus	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	ELISA/IFA (blood sample)	12
Aspiculuris tetraptera	Yes	−	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (colon contents)	12
Syphacia spp.	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (Perianal region)	12
Giardia muris	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (Duodenal content)	12
Spironucleus muris	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (Duodenal content)	12
Trichomonas  spp.	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (Caecal content)	12
Ectoparasite	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	Microscopic examination (fur)	12
Parasite eggs	−	−	Yes	Yes	−	Flotation method, Microscopic examination (feces)	when needed
Heartworm microfilaria	−	−	Yes	−	−	Microscopic examination (blood)	upon arrival only
Dermatophytic fungi	Yes	Yes	−	−	−	cultures (fur)	when needed
a: enzyme antibody method, b: indirect fluorescent antibody method, c: polymerase chain reaction, d: times/year, e: immunodeficient mice only

Division in charge

　The Division of Microbiology and Genetics is responsible for inspection of pathogenic microorganisms.
　Please contact the supervisor below with questions regarding health inspection of animals during experiments, health inspection of animals other than mice, disclosure of period inspection results for mice, etc.

　Supervisor: Nakamura
　nanakamukumamoto-u.ac.jp
　->Contact List (Internal University use only)