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    Kathleen Pritchett-Corning

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    National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
    This document discusses health status of laboratory animals before, during, and after transport. It notes that health status refers to the presence or absence of various microbiological agents, and that changing health status during transit poses a risk, especially if animals infect those at the receiving facility. The document outlines steps that can be taken to reduce risks to health status when packing, transporting, and unpacking laboratory animals being shipped. These include using climate-controlled transport, avoiding mixing of shipments, and carefully handling crates upon arrival.

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    Kathleen Pritchett-Corning

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    National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
    188 views24 pages
    This document discusses health status of laboratory animals before, during, and after transport. It notes that health status refers to the presence or absence of various microbiological agents, and that changing health status during transit poses a risk, especially if animals infect those at the receiving facility. The document outlines steps that can be taken to reduce risks to health status when packing, transporting, and unpacking laboratory animals being shipped. These include using climate-controlled transport, avoiding mixing of shipments, and carefully handling crates upon arrival.

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    Pritchett-Corning ILAR Roundtable Presentation

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    This document discusses health status of laboratory animals before, during, and after transport. It notes that health status refers to the presence or absence of various microbiological agents, and that changing health status during transit poses a risk, especially if animals infect those at the receiving facility. The document outlines steps that can be taken to reduce risks to health status when packing, transporting, and unpacking laboratory animals being shipped. These include using climate-controlled transport, avoiding mixing of shipments, and carefully handling crates upon arrival.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    188 views24 pages

    Kathleen Pritchett-Corning

    Uploaded by

    National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
    This document discusses health status of laboratory animals before, during, and after transport. It notes that health status refers to the presence or absence of various microbiological agents, and that changing health status during transit poses a risk, especially if animals infect those at the receiving facility. The document outlines steps that can be taken to reduce risks to health status when packing, transporting, and unpacking laboratory animals being shipped. These include using climate-controlled transport, avoiding mixing of shipments, and carefully handling crates upon arrival.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    of 24

    Health status

    before, during, and


    after transit
    Kathleen Pritchett-Corning
    DVM, DACLAM, MRCVS
    Senior Clinical Veterinarian
    Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences
    Health status health
    Health = basic bodily integrity and proper
    functioning

    Health status = the presence/absence of
    various microbiologic agents monitored in
    the animals of interest
    For some laboratory animals
    Changing health status in transit is much
    less of a risk either because they dont
    have a tightly controlled health status or they
    are vaccinated or both

    Or the risks are taken by the humans
    transporting them
    (Marburg, measles, TB, rabies)
    Always look to the law
    National laws on import are there to protect
    agriculture and human health.

    Often exemptions from some testing for lab
    animals, but be sure that your
    paperwork/statements meet the
    legal/regulatory requirements outlined in
    those exemptions.
    Vast majority of animals
    transported for research today
    Health status is vital
    Contamination with unwanted microbial
    agents can render the animals unusable for
    research, have significant ($$$$$) and long-
    lasting effects on receiving institutions, or
    potentially affect the health of the animals.

    Most agents of concern are
    SPECIES-SPECIFIC
    Trust, but verify
    Health status of the animal is generally the
    responsibility of the consignor, not the
    carrier.

    If your carrier has control of the shipment
    from door-to-door, risk is reduced.

    Alas, not always possible.


    Whats the risk? (HACCP)

    Not to human health*
    Not to health of other species*

    The biggest risk is that the animals will
    change health status during transport and
    infect animals at the receiving facility.
    *some GMO excluded?
    HACCP in research rodent shipping
    Packing
    Transport to shipping vehicle
    Cart, car, truck
    Shipping
    Car, plane, truck (boat? train?)
    Transport to ultimate destination
    Truck, car, cart
    Unpacking
    Research rodents?
    Very small percentage of rodents shipped
    Majority shipped are pet
    rats/mice/gerbils/hamsters/guinea pigs
    Feeder rats/mice

    Health status of pet/feeder producers?

    Different than research!
    Packing
    Pack appropriately
    New containers
    Health status of animals inside
    Protecting that status

    Consider stops along the way
    What are the risks to health status?
    Mixing shipments?

    Transport to primary carrier
    Climate-controlled

    Preserves integrity of the shipping crates

    Avoids cross-contamination
    Between crates
    Between shipments
    Carrier movement of animals
    Lower risk: carrier-controlled door-to-door
    Major lab rodent vendors
    Climate-controlled vehicles
    Control of whats on those trucks

    Higher risk: 2ndary to primary to 2ndary
    There are stops along the way
    Whats next to your animals?
    Photo: By Mike Clarke, AFP/Getty Images
    Crowcroft, 1966
    Transport to ultimate destination
    Climate-controlled

    Preserves integrity of the shipping crates

    Avoids cross-contamination
    Between crates
    Between shipments
    Unpacking
    THE CRUCIAL STEP

    Crate integrity
    Crate disinfection
    Crate entry

    Quarantine (or not?)
    A story from times past
    Chronic, recurring mouse parvovirus
    outbreaks in SPF immunology facility.




    Associated with certain vendors, but
    vendors not infected (and not lying).

    ?????
    Seasonalityoutbreaks occurred in late fall.

    Shipment modefew animals arrived by
    dedicated truck. Most arrived by plane, then
    courier.

    Facility handling of cratescould be better.


    Best guess
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    Cl
    O
    O
    To sum up
    There is a risk of health status change
    during transport for lab rodents.

    You cannot control for all the risks inherent
    in transport.

    Take precautions on arrival to protect your
    facility.

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