Laboratory animal bedding and nesting materials for rodents and lagomorphs: the South African situation

The different bedding and nesting materials used for small laboratory animals (mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits) by different institutions (n = 27) in South Africa were investigated by making use of questionnaires. A response of 81.5% was obtained. Twenty-two per cent of the respondents made exclusive use of direct (contact) bedding materials, whilst the rest used both direct (breeding) and indirect (nonbreeding) bedding methods. Three institutions did not use bedding materials for indirect bedding applications. Ten different bedding and nesting materials were identified. Non-sterile materials were used by 57% (indirect bedding), 44% (direct bedding), and 42% (nesting material) of the respondents. Between 7 and 22% of the respondents did however use both sterile and non-sterile materials for the different applications.