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Contaminated Shipping Materials Identified as the Source of Rotaviral Infection of Exported Mice

Krista E Lindstrom1, Kenneth S Henderson2, Melinda S Mayorga3

  • 1Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of California, San Francisco, California;,

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS
|August 16, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Contaminated feed and bedding in shipping boxes caused mouse rotavirus (MRV) infections in exported mice. This study identifies shipping materials as a novel source of MRV transmission in research animal exports.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Laboratory Animal Science
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Mouse rotavirus (MRV) is a significant concern in research animal facilities.
  • Our institution maintains MRV-free status across its specific pathogen-free (SPF) barrier facilities.
  • Recent MRV detections in exported mice from our facility prompted an investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the source of MRV contamination in exported mice.
  • To investigate the role of shipping materials as a potential vector for MRV transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated 7 independent MRV cases in exported mice from our SPF facilities.
  • Conducted extensive environmental testing in originating animal rooms, yielding negative MRV results.
  • Hypothesized contaminated shipping boxes; tested naïve sentinel mice with feed/bedding from new boxes (n=29).
  • Evaluated sentinel mice for MRV infection using serology and PCR after 14 days exposure.

Main Results:

  • No MRV was detected in the originating animal rooms.
  • A single vendor's shipping boxes, containing pre-sterilized feed and bedding, were common to all 7 MRV-positive shipments.
  • Exposure to feed/bedding from these boxes resulted in 24/29 sentinel mice becoming seropositive and 14/29 PCR positive for MRV.

Conclusions:

  • Contaminated feed or bedding within shipping boxes is a direct source of MRV infection in exported mice.
  • This study is the first to report contaminated shipping materials causing rotaviral infections during animal export.
  • Highlights the critical need for stringent quality control of shipping materials in laboratory animal transport.

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