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Updated: May 30, 2026
A Controlled Mouse Model for Neonatal Polymicrobial Sepsis
Published on: January 27, 2019
Detection and control of mouse parvovirus
James D Macy1, Gail A Cameron, Peter C Smith
1Section of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. james.macy@yale.edu
Abstract:
Mouse parvovirus (MPV) remains a prevalent infection of laboratory mice. We developed 2 strategies to detect and control an active MPV infection over a 9.5-mo period. The first strategy used a test-and-cull approach in 12 rooms. After all cages corresponding to MPV-seropositive bedding sentinels were removed from the room, a naïve sentinel mouse was dedicated to every 2 to 3 rows per rack and received soiled bedding from these rows every 2 wk. All 12 rooms completed 3 consecutive negative rounds of targeted testing, which required an average of 20 wk. The second strategy used a modified quarantine approach to test unique mice that were critical for breeding. The process required removing selected cages from the seropositive rack and consolidating them to a single rack within the same room. All mice in these cages were tested by using MPV serology and fecal PCR. Cages were not moved, opened, or manipulated between sample collection and the availability of test results. The cages were relocated as a group to another room, because all mice were MPV negative. The mice were retested 3 wk after the initial testing, and all were MPV seronegative. Since the rooms were cleared 4 to 5 y ago, 7915 routine bedding sentinels and colony mice were tested from these rooms, all with negative results. These consistently negative MPV test results suggest that MPV was eliminated from these rooms, rather than driven down below the threshold of detection. These 2 strategies should be considered when confronting MPV infection.
Insights
Two strategies effectively detected and controlled mouse parvovirus (MPV) in laboratory mice. These methods, involving test-and-cull and modified quarantine, successfully eliminated MPV from research facilities.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Infectious Disease Control
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Mouse parvovirus (MPV) is a common infection in laboratory mouse colonies.
- MPV poses a significant challenge to research integrity and animal welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate two distinct strategies for the detection and eradication of active mouse parvovirus infections.
- To assess the long-term efficacy of these strategies in maintaining MPV-free status in research facilities.
Main Methods:
- Strategy 1: A test-and-cull approach involving sentinel mice and regular soiled bedding transfers over 20 weeks.
- Strategy 2: A modified quarantine protocol for critical breeding mice, including serology and fecal PCR testing, with retesting after relocation.
Main Results:
- Both strategies successfully eliminated MPV from the targeted rooms, confirmed by multiple rounds of negative testing.
- The test-and-cull method required an average of 20 weeks to achieve three consecutive negative testing rounds.
- The modified quarantine approach successfully cleared MPV from essential breeding colonies, with all mice testing negative post-relocation and retesting.
Conclusions:
- The implemented test-and-cull and modified quarantine strategies are effective for eradicating mouse parvovirus from laboratory environments.
- Sustained MPV-free status was achieved, indicated by extensive negative testing over several years post-intervention.
- These methods provide valuable tools for managing and controlling MPV outbreaks in research settings.
