Mouse

Presence of nesting material does not prevent ability to accurately identify sick or dead mice during routine health checking

Whether nesting material assists or hinders the ability to identify sick mice during routine health check is a widely debated topic. Currently, our large and diverse academic research institution is exploring the possibility of providing nesting material to all of...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Burlingame, L. A., Lofgren, J. L. 2014. Presence of nesting material does not prevent ability to accurately identify sick or dead mice during routine health checking. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 603 (Abstract #P204).

Impact of blood sampling procedures on the welfare of laboratory mice

A previous study showed that blood sampling either automatically, through a catheter, or by puncture of the tail vein is less stressful than facial vein phlebotomy in mice. We decided to investigate how facial vein phlebotomy would affect animal welfare...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Teilmann, A. C., Madsen, A. N., Holst, B. et al. 2014. Impact of blood sampling procedures on the welfare of laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 600-601. (Abstract #P195).

Useful rodent enrichment: Party in a bag

Based on standard practice, all laboratory animals should be given enrichment for physical and mental wellbeing. However, depending on the type of enrichment, it can become costly or impede with accurate health observations. We assessed different types of enrichment to...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Schroen, A., Dunbar, M., Hughes, L. J. 2014. Useful rodent enrichment: Party in a bag. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 575-576. (Abstract #P102).

Do singly housed male mice get lonely? Evidence of depressive states after short-term single housing of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice

Through behavioral and preference studies we know that mice prefer company. Laboratory mice should thus never be housed alone, if a viable option exists. Yet single housing is a fairly common practice, in particular with male mice, because an experimental...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kalliokoski, O., Teilmann, A. C., Jacoben, K. R. et al. 2014. Do singly housed male mice get lonely? Evidence of depressive states after short-term single housing of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 597. (Abstract #P184).

A simplified method to identify and reduce flooded rodent caging

The number of flooded cages per cage change cycle (14 days) was tracked and it was identified that leaks and flooding often times occurred shortly after cage changing. To reduce the occurrence of flooded caging, we developed a pre-screening process...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Holley, A., Drayer, J., Rammling, M. et al. 2014. A simplified method to identify and reduce flooded rodent caging. Charles River, Orlando, FL.

Aggression in laboratory mice: Potential influences and how to manage it

Aggression is a naturally occurring behavior of mice that can provide benefit to those that display it in the wild. Many factors appear to influence these negative social interactions between mice, making mitigation in the laboratory more complicated. Based on...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B. 2014. Aggression in laboratory mice: Potential influences and how to manage it. Enrichment Record 18, 22-25.

Shedding ultraviolet light on welfare in laboratory rodents: Suggestions for further research and refinement

The welfare of laboratory rats and mice is sought to be optimised through adjustment of a variety of environmental factors, including light intensity and photoperiodicity. However, the fact that rodents are able to perceive ultraviolet (UV) light tends to be...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B. 2014. Shedding ultraviolet light on welfare in laboratory rodents: Suggestions for further research and refinement. Animal Welfare 23(3), 259-261.

Current understanding and use of environmental enrichment in China

In practice, consideration is given to providing most of the species used in research,testing and education withsome level of environmental enrichment. However, although the current level of awareness and understanding about the benefits of environmental enrichment appears similar across different...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Dog, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Qi, K., De-mi, S., Chuan, Q. 2014. Current understanding and use of environmental enrichment in China. Enrichment Record 20, 8-11.

Use of spontaneous behaviour measures to assess pain in laboratory rats and mice: How are we progressing?

The understanding and recognition of pain in laboratory rats and mice has advanced considerably in recent times. However, there is evidence that despite these advances, analgesics are still relatively underutilised in these species. One possible contributing influence to this is...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Whittaker, A. L., Howarth, G. S. 2014. Use of spontaneous behaviour measures to assess pain in laboratory rats and mice: How are we progressing? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 151, 1-12.

A comparison of soiled bedding densities and stress in sentinel mice

Sentinel animals are used to monitor the health status of rodents used in research. It is important to screen for potentially pathogenic viruses, parasites, and bacterial organisms to detect and rapidly respond to unwanted pathogens that may adversely affect research...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Murphy, S., Fortner, J., Adusumilli, S. 2014. A comparison of soiled bedding densities and stress in sentinel mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 609. (Abstract #P225).