A container for transporting small laboratory animals for magnetic resonance imaging

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Imaging Technology

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities are often located outside sterile animal housing units.
• Transporting animals from pathogen-free environments to external imaging facilities poses infection risks.
• Ensuring animal safety and maintaining sample integrity during transport is crucial for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a simple, cost-effective container for transporting small animals to external MRI facilities.
• To assess the container's efficacy in preventing microbial contamination during animal transport.
• To determine the impact of the container on the quality of MRI images.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a transport container using a propylene tube, High-Efficiency Particulate Aerosol (HEPA) filter, and a rubber glove.
• Pathogen analysis to test the container's ability to prevent microbial infection.
• MRI scans of mice and rats conducted within the container to evaluate image quality.

Main Results:

• Pathogen analysis confirmed the container's effectiveness in preventing infection by several microorganisms.
• Satisfactory MRI image quality was achieved for both mice and rats imaged within the container.
• The container successfully maintained a barrier against external contaminants.

Conclusions:

• The developed container provides a safe and effective method for transporting small animals to MRI facilities outside pathogen-free zones.
• This innovation ensures biosecurity for both animals and personnel, facilitating research requiring external imaging equipment.
• The container supports high-quality imaging, making it a valuable tool for preclinical research.