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Ten years-long survey on pathogen status of mouse and rat breeding colonies
Abstract:
Eleven pathogens including P. aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., E. coli O115a, c: K(B), P. pneumotropica, B. bronchiseptica, C. kutscheri, Tyzzer's organism, M. pulmonis, Sendai virus, MHV and Syphacia spp. were surveyed in 217 mouse and rat breeding colonies during 1972-1981. In conventional animals, P. pneumotropica and/or Syphacia spp. were detected in nearly 90% of 89 mouse and 64 rat colonies. Sendai virus, M. pulmonis, P. aeruginosa and MHV were positive in 51.7 to 23.6% of the colonies, and Tyzzer's organism, B. bronchiseptica and probably SDA virus were also detected in more than 10% of the rat colonies. Salmonella spp., E. coli O115a, c: K(B) and C. kutscheri were found in a few colonies. In SPF animals, P. aeruginosa was isolated from about one third of 33 mouse and 31 rat colonies, and P. aeruginosa was isolated from about one third of 33 mouse and 31 rat colonies, and P. pneumotropica was also positive in 3 rat colonies. Infection rates of P. pneumotropica, M. pulmonis, Sendai virus and Syphacia spp. were usually higher than 40% of animals sampled from colonies contaminated with them. Accidental contaminations of SPF colonies were usually caused by P. pneumotropica and Syphacia spp.
Insights
Common pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Syphacia spp. frequently contaminate conventional mouse and rat colonies. Accidental contamination of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) colonies often involves P. pneumotropica and Syphacia spp.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Laboratory Animal Science
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Maintaining pathogen-free animal models is crucial for reliable research outcomes.
- Surveys of rodent colonies are essential for understanding disease prevalence and control.
- Historical data on pathogen prevalence informs current biosecurity practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey the prevalence of eleven key pathogens in mouse and rat breeding colonies.
- To identify common infectious agents in both conventional and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animal populations.
- To assess the sources and rates of contamination in research animal facilities.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a longitudinal survey of 217 mouse and rat breeding colonies from 1972-1981.
- Utilized diagnostic methods to detect eleven specific pathogens: P. aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., E. coli O115a, c: K(B), P. pneumotropica, B. bronchiseptica, C. kutscheri, Tyzzer's organism, M. pulmonis, Sendai virus, MHV, and Syphacia spp.
- Differentiated between conventional and SPF animal colonies to assess contamination patterns.
Main Results:
- Conventional colonies showed high prevalence (>90%) of P. pneumotropica and/or Syphacia spp.
- Sendai virus, M. pulmonis, P. aeruginosa, and MHV were detected in 23.6-51.7% of colonies.
- SPF colonies experienced accidental contamination, primarily by P. pneumotropica and Syphacia spp., with infection rates >40% in affected animals.
Conclusions:
- P. pneumotropica and Syphacia spp. are significant and persistent contaminants in rodent research colonies.
- SPF status is vulnerable to contamination by common pathogens, necessitating stringent biosecurity.
- Understanding historical pathogen prevalence aids in developing effective strategies for disease control in laboratory animals.