Abstract

The preferred site for blood collection for clinical pathology assessment depends on the volume and type of blood required, sampling intervals and state of consciousness of animals during sampling. Blood sampling from jugular vein from conscious rats has multiple advantages including simplicity, speed, the ability to incorporate repeated sampling (decreasing the need for satellite groups), collection in conscious animals and supports three Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). The objectives of this study were to standardise single handed jugular vein sampling in conscious male rats and compare the clinical pathology data generated, with samples obtained from fasted and anesthetized rats via retro-orbital bleeding, abdominal aorta and heart (ventricles). Forty-eight (48) rats were grouped into twelve rats each, per group per route. No biological or statistically significant differences were observed in any of clinical pathology parameters obtained by jugular vein blood collection in conscious rats compared to blood samples collected from other sampling routes under isoflurane anesthesia. It is concluded that single-handed blood sampling from jugular veins of conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in acceptable quality of samples for clinical pathology assessment. The single-handed jugular vein sampling technique can be considered as advantageous on welfare grounds as rats can be returned to the cages within minutes after sampling, consequently reducing the stress. Additionally, blood sampling from conscious rats enable the interpretation of the clinical pathology data without being influenced by anesthesia.

Abstract

Preclinical models have played a fundamental role in understanding the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of novel drugs and radiopharmaceuticals prior to its clinical testing. Application of radiotracers and Nuclear Imaging Techniques have the potential of real time tracking of radiotracer molecules in a non-invasive manner. The three Rs principles are now a worldwide commitment for laboratory animals. Hence, we have carried out PET/CT and scintigraphy imaging technique for monitoring and exploring the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles of novel drugs in the lung, tumor site, stomach as well as their systemic retention in animals. The present work includes different case studies viz. Evaluation and gastric retention of radiolabeled metformin floating tablet in rabbits by gamma scintigraphy; and Normal biodistribution of radiolabeled etoposide-nano-formulation in New Zealand White rabbit and evaluation of anticancer activity in C57BL/6 mice as a lung metastatic melanoma tumor model. Results showed that the gastric retention of radiolabeled metformin floating tablet was observed to be 50% in the rabbit stomach up to 6h post administration and radiolabeled etoposide-nano-formulation showed 97% of lung uptake in normal rabbit at 1h and significant regression in the number of lung metastasis sites in mice tumor model. Successful drug delivery information can be obtained by in vivo monitoring which enables acquiring statistically significant data from a limited number of animals by the advance imaging modalities. These techniques have an added advantage to provide the Reduction principle in laboratory animals and also boost the research and development for new drugs and radiopharmaceuticals.

Abstract

The time points of development of laboratory animal-based research and establishment of societies/associations for laboratory animal science differ in the Asian part of the world. Some of the Asian countries do not have their own associations and they are in the process of establishing them. In this context, we conceptualized the idea through this article to provide an overview on initiation of laboratory animal-based research and establishment of associations or societies in several different Asian countries.

Abstract

Successful breeding programme of laboratory animals is one of a key factor in any facility operations. In-house breeding of laboratory animal species depends on using correct breeding method, number of animals requested by the researchers, litter size, birth weight, perinatal mortality, weaning percentage, female:male ratio, parity interval, fostering, postpartum heat, non-productive breeders, enrichment programme etc. To fulfil the animal demands for in vivo research, these points play significant role, especially perinatal mortality. Perinatal mortality is strain dependent and therefore facility must be aware about the percentage of pups mortality to avoid further miscalculation while setting up the breeding program. In order to get the first hand information about strain wise perinatal mortality, historical control data or baseline data should be generated which play an important role in successful breeding programme and timely meeting the target of providing experimental animals. Aim of the present study was to generate baseline control values of reproductive efficiency parameters of commonly used mice strains at ACTREC Animal Facility. The existing in-house data was compiled for the period of July to December 2019. Perinatal mortality varied between the primiparous and multiparous females. In total, data of 4247 pups obtained from 39 inbred primiparous, 93 outbred primiparous, 159 inbred multiparous and 466 outbred multiparous females. The average number of pups delivered by inbred primiparous and multiparous females was recorded as 5.13 and 5.85, respectively. There was no significant difference between the female:male ratio between primiparous and multiparous females of C57BL/6 inbred strain. Weaning of pups was done on day 21. Percentages of weaning of pups from primiparous and multiparous inbred strain were recorded as 87 and 92.37%, respectively. Perinatal mortality in inbred primiparous female was 13% while in inbred multiparous was 7.63%. It is observed that perinatal mortality in inbred primiparous pups is higher than inbred multiparous females. In case of outbred stock of C57BL/6 mice, we observed average litter born of 4.96 and 5.70 for primiparous and multiparous mothers, respectively. Weaning percentage of 83.73% and 93.56% was recorded in outbred primiparous and multiparous mothers, respectively. Perinatal mortality in pups obtained from outbred primiparous and multiparous mothers was 15.84% and 6.44% respectively. The data indicated that perinatal mortality is significantly high in the pups obtained from primiparous females than multiparous females of both the breeding methods. We compared the data of C57BL/6 mice with robust strain, B6D2F1. The overall results can be used as baseline data for our C57BL/6 and B6D2F1 strains by the ACTREC scientists as well as colony managers from other facilities

Abstract

University of Colombo (UCFM) as the forerunner in laboratory animal science in Sri Lanka to facilitate laboratory animal use in medical education, research, ethics and laboratory animal science education.

Abstract

A six-year-old female bonnet monkey was noticed with a bloated abdomen seven days after experimentation. A plain radiograph was taken to determine the cause of bloating. However, the plain radiograph did not reveal any significant changes except patches of gas in the abdomen. Hence, a contrast radiograph was done with a barium meal. A constriction was observed in the rectal region in contrast radiograph. An emergency laparotomy was done and stricture was surgically corrected by an end-to-end anastomosis.

Abstract

Animals are most often victimized during calamities and disasters such as flood, earthquake, epidemic, fire, protest and war. Prevention of animal suffering during such situations is the most challenging part to meet the animal welfare aspect. The recent pandemic caused by Covid 19 infection has brought the whole world to a standstill. The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern due to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in January 2020 and subsequently confirming the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) was a major global crisis in the history of human life. With the public health concern due to Covid-19 pandemic and rising number of cases, on 24th March 2020, the Hon Prime Minister of India declared a nationwide lockdown for 21 days and lockdown extended for two more times till June 2020. Several institutions associated with the day-to-day activities of the public were closed. It was a very difficult situation to arrange services for running the animal facilities in the research laboratories. This was the first-ever disaster when public services, transport and manpower availability were severely affected for the months. Although the husbandry practices in the established animal facilities in national laboratories/institutions/corporate were not affected severely during the Covid 19 pandemic, many small facilities in the zoology/pharmacy colleges and small establishments collapsed due to non-availability of manpower, bedding materials and feeds. Many research organizations were closed for daily working due to scarcity of the above services and allowed to work from the home wherever possible. To cope up with such a situation disaster management plan should be in place in all the animal facilities. We describe a disaster management plan for handling a similar situation if it arise in the future. The plan includes articulation of several authorities at different levels for the uninterrupted passage of services towards the arrangement of manpower, materials and feeds to avoid animal suffering.