Publications

Physiologic stress of ear punch identification compared with restraint only in mice

Social housing of laboratory rodents is recommended whenever possible to encourage natural behavior and social dynamics. Several identification methods are used to distinguish rodents from one another. One of the most common means of identifying mice is ear punching. The...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Identification MethodAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Taitt, K. T., Kendall, L. V. 2019. Physiologic stress of ear punch identification compared with restraint only in mice. JAALAS 58(4), 438-442.

Evaluation of a 16-week change cycle for ventilated mouse cages

The methods and conditions for housing research mice have been the subject of many discussions and publications in recent years. At our institution, we began to explore these matters with the goal of reducing stress in the animals and yet...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Taylor, J. L., Noel, P., Mickelsen, M. 2019. Evaluation of a 16-week change cycle for ventilated mouse cages. JAALAS 58(4), 443-449.

Refinements of equipment and methodology to reduce risk during pole-guided chair transfer of nonhuman primates

Neurophysiologic studies of NHP commonly involve their transfer from a housing enclosure to a laboratory by using a mobile chair. This transfer should be performed in a manner that is safe and minimizes stress for both animal and handler. The...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: McIntosh, M. K., Armitage-Brown, B., Levy, R. 2019. Refinements of equipment and methodology to reduce risk during pole-guided chair transfer of nonhuman primates. JAALAS 58(4), 462-468.

Association of Primate Veterinarians’ Position Statement: Cerebrospinal fluid aspiration for nonhuman primates in biomedical research

The Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) recognizes that CSF collection may be required for both clinical and research purposes in nonhuman primates (NHP). Because there are inherent risks associated with the technique, the laboratory animal veterinarian should determine the need...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Association of Primate Veterinarians. 2019. Association of Primate Veterinarians' Position Statement: Cerebrospinal fluid aspiration for nonhuman primates in biomedical research. JAALAS 58(4), 428-429.

Identifying and implementing endpoints for geriatric mice

The types of changes in physical appearance and behavior that occur in elderly people similarly develop in elderly animals. Signs and symptoms that might cause concern in younger people or mice may be normal in their elderly but generally healthy...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Toth, L. A. 2018. Identifying and implementing endpoints for geriatric mice. Comparative Medicine 68(6), 439–451.

Immunomodulatory effects of stress and environmental enrichment in Long–Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Stress can influence the secretion of neuroendocrine mediators, thereby exposing immune cells to altered signaling and interactions. Here we investigated the synergetic effect of stress and environmental enrichment on the immune response of Long–Evans rats. Subjects (n = 46) were...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Scarola, S. J., Perdomo Trejo, J. R., Granger, M. E. et al. 2019. Immunomodulatory effects of stress and environmental enrichment in Long–Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus). Comparative Medicine 69(1), 35–47.

Monitoring the health status of mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury by using body condition scoring

Well-defined, humane endpoints aid in monitoring animal health status during disease development. Body condition scoring (BCS) is a method for assessing health status in mouse studies where wasting and death are potential endpoints. Whether BCS is useful in monitoring animals...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cowley, P. M., Roberts, C. R., Baker, A. J. 2019. Monitoring the health status of mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury by using body condition scoring. Comparative Medicine 69(2), 95–102.

A bird’s-eye view of regulatory, animal care, and training considerations regarding avian flight research

A thorough understanding of how animals fly is a central goal of many scientific disciplines. Birds are a commonly used model organism for flight research. The success of this model requires studying healthy and naturally flying birds in a laboratory...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Finch, Fowl, Other Bird, Parrot

Citation: Baker, S. W., Tucci, E. R., Felt, S. A. et al. 2019. A bird's-eye view of regulatory, animal care, and training considerations regarding avian flight research. Comparative Medicine 69(3), 169–178.

Effects of pregnancy, outdoor access, and antifungal medication on hair loss in breeding-age female pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina)

Over 18 mo, adult female pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) housed at a breeding facility in Arizona were monitored every 6 mo for alopecia. The study period coincided with the movement of a majority of animals from primarily outdoor housing to...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, HousingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Kroeker, R., Chichester, L., Lee, G. H. et al. 2019. Effects of pregnancy, outdoor access, and antifungal medication on hair loss in breeding-age female pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Comparative Medicine 69(3), 221–227.

The Animal Welfare Act and the conduct and publishing of wildlife research in the United States

In the US, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and its enabling regulations (AWAR) cover all warm-blooded animals used for research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition. The only exceptions, made in the enabling regulations, are for two genera of rodents and for...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Mulcahy, D. M. 2017. The Animal Welfare Act and the conduct and publishing of wildlife research in the United States. ILAR Journal 58(3), 371-378.