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Laboratory Rodent Transportation Supplies

Lab Animal volume 33, pages 29–32 (2004)Cite this article

As biomedical research becomes an increasingly global venture, the need to transport animals—especially genetically engineered mice—increases. Not only do breeders ship animals to research institutions, but the interinstitutional sharing—and therefore transport—of animals is on the rise.

The amount of time and money that goes into creating and breeding genetically modified lines of mice highlights the importance of transporting these animals under strictly controlled conditions to ensure that their health and welfare are not compromised. Because it is well known that infections can confound research results1, it is also imperative that shipping conditions do not alter the animals' microbial status. For example, conditions that will exclude adventitious microorganisms are mandatory for transport of specific pathogen–free rodents2.

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Figure 1: Plastic shipping crates can be autoclaved and reused.
Figure 2: Disposable shipping containers made of crush-proof cardboard, provide an economical means of shipping laboratory rodents.
Figure 3: Keeping animals in separate filtered compartments within the shipping container can prevent contact between animals and the spread of adventitious microorganisms.
Figure 4: Immunodeficient animals can be shipped in specially designed microisolation cages that fit into an overshipper.
Figure 5: In addition to serving as a water source during shipping, gel/moisture packs can be used as an alternative to water bottles.
Figure 6: Quarantine service providers house rodents in isolators, such as this flexible-film isolator, to prevent cross-contamination.

References

  1. Nicklas, E. et al. Implications of infectious agents on results of animal experiments. Lab. Anim. 33(Suppl. 1), 39–87 (1999).

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  2. National Research Council. Rodents: Laboratory Animal Management 86–87 (National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1996).

  3. 9 CFR 3.13–3.19.

  4. International Air Transport Association. Live Animal Regulations http://www.iata.org/ps/publications/9105.htm.

  5. Cunliffe-Beamer, T. From here to there: organizing a shipment of laboratory rodents. Lab Anim. (NY) 27(5), 49–55 (1998).

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  6. Orcutt, R.P., Phelan, R.S. & Geistfeld, J.G. Exclusion of mouse hepatitis virus from a filtered, plastic rodent shipping container during an in-transit field challenge. Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci. 40(4), 32–35 (2001).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sr. Manager, BioResources, Wyeth Research, Pearl River, NY

    John A. Maher MS, MBA, CMAR, RLATG

  2. Schub is Editor of Lab Animal.,

    Tanja Schub

Authors
  1. John A. Maher MS, MBA, CMAR, RLATG
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  2. Tanja Schub
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John A. Maher MS, MBA, CMAR, RLATG.

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Maher, J., Schub, T. Laboratory Rodent Transportation Supplies. Lab Anim 33, 29–32 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0904-29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0904-29

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