Facility design and management. Strategies for high level biocontainment

Area of Science:

• Infectious disease research
• Animal model development
• Biocontainment strategies

Background:

• Investigating emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases is crucial for global health.
• High-containment research (BSL 3 and 4) using animal models presents challenges in safety, scientific objectives, and animal welfare.
• Preclinical models are essential for studying diseases like tuberculosis and Ebola.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe strategies for high-containment research involving various animal species infected with high-consequence pathogens.
• To detail methods for ensuring human safety, optimizing scientific outcomes, and promoting animal welfare.
• To present advancements in biocontainment and animal welfare assessment for infectious disease research.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a range of animal species (mice, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, macaques) as preclinical models.
• Employing aerosol challenges to mimic natural infection routes and clinical monitoring techniques.
• Implementing advanced sampling methods including lung lavage and medical imaging (CT, PET-CT).
• Developing directional flow containment systems and group housing with enrichment strategies.
• Using a software-based Animal Welfare Assessment Grid for quantifying animal welfare.

Main Results:

• Successful high-containment of multiple animal species infected with dangerous pathogens.
• Aerosol challenge models provide relevant disease progression and therapeutic efficacy data.
• Medical imaging aids in disease assessment and refinement of humane endpoints.
• Directional flow containment ensures operator protection while allowing species-appropriate housing and enrichment.
• Quantifiable improvements in animal welfare demonstrated through the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid.

Conclusions:

• Advanced biocontainment strategies effectively balance human safety, scientific rigor, and animal welfare in high-containment research.
• Innovative methods, including aerosol challenges and advanced imaging, enhance the relevance and ethical conduct of preclinical infectious disease studies.
• The developed systems and welfare assessment tools represent significant progress in managing high-consequence pathogens in animal models.