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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE
Office of Research Integrity & Outreach
Procedure #:
Date Adopted:
Last Updated:
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
Procedure Title:
04-003
7/28/2003
2/14/2012
Sarah Gilliam, Animal Facilities Manager
USM IACUC Committee
Rodent Husbandry
1.0 Purpose: To provide a comfortable, clean & healthy environment for all rodents
according to guidelines and regulations.
2.0 Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the investigator, technician, or student
performing this task to follow the procedures established in this document.
3.0 Applicable Documents:
3.1 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
3.2 SOP 01-004: Barrier Entry for Personnel
3.3 SOP 02-001: Animal Space Provision
3.4 SOP 03-001: Daily Observation of Laboratory Animals
3.5 SOP 03-002: Animal Carcass Disposal
3.6 SOP 03-005: Animal Identification
3.7 SOP 04-004: Bedding Disposal
3.8 SOP 04-005: Caging Equipment Sanitation
3.9 Equipment operating manual(s)
3.10 Zoonotic Diseases List
4.0 Rodent Handling:
4.1 Gloves should be worn at all times when handling animals. Use of forceps is
acceptable when transferring from cage to cage.
4.2 Transfer of animals from dirty cage to clean cage:
4.2.1 Only one animal cage may be opened at a time.
4.2.2 When possible, should be done in a laminar flow cabinet.
4.2.3 Animal can be picked up by the base of the tail with gloved hands
or with forceps.
4.2.3.1 Forceps should be soaked in disinfectant after each use.
4.2.3.2 Gloves should be changed or sprayed with disinfectant
after each cage.
4.2.3.3 Never grab the animal at the tip of the tail-this can result
in the loss of skin & caudal vertebrae exposure.
5.0 Safety Considerations:
5.1 Animal mishandling can result in the handler being bitten.
5.2 Read all labels on disinfectants carefully to avoid any harmful exposure to the
technician or animal.
5.3 Refer to the zoonotic diseases list posted within the facility.
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6.0 Materials and Equipment:
6.1 Appropriate caging
6.1.1 Mice: Alternative Design, UDEL Dura Mouse Cage, 11.5” long x
7.25” wide x 5” high, with solid bottom
6.1.2 Rats: Alternative Design, UDEL Dura Rat Cage, 18.75” long x
10.25” wide x 8” high, with solid bottom.
6.2 Forceps and/or gloves
6.3 Wire cage lid
6.4 Filter top
6.5 Bedding: Tek-fresh
6.6 Feed-Harlan Tekland Irradiated Global 18% Protein Rodent Diet #2918
6.6.1 Feed type may change, if necessary, due to protocol requirements.
6.7 Disinfectant Spray
6.8 Cage-type appropriate water bottle
7.0 Preparation:
7.1 Check the cage changing schedule to be sure that the appropriate room(s) are
getting changed for that day.
7.1.1 All cages, wire bars, filter tops and water bottles are changed
weekly.
7.2 Each cage should be filled ~2.5 cm deep with bedding
7.3 For barrier and immunodeficient animals, the cages, bedding, wire lids, water
bottles, filter tops, and feed are autoclaved.
7.3.1 Refer to the autoclave’s operating manual for sterilization
specifications.
7.4 Gather the appropriate number of cages, water bottles, supplies and equipment
for the room to be changed.
8.0 Procedure:
8.1 If a hood/laminar flow cabinet is available, turn on the fan & lights about 5
minutes before beginning cage changes.
8.2 Disinfect entire work surface before placing any cages on it.
8.3 New gloves should be put on each time the technician enters a new room and
discarded before leaving the room.
8.3.1 The technician per SOP 01-004: Barrier Entry for Personnel should
already be wearing a lab coat, Tyvek, or precaution gown.
8.4 Place the dirty cage and the clean cage side by side on the work surface.
8.5 For barrier-maintained, quarantine & immunodeficient animals, gloves should
be sprayed with disinfectant before opening the cage.
8.6 Remove the cage cardholder from the dirty cage and place it on the clean
cage.
8.6.1 Make sure that the number of animals within the cage matches the
number noted on the cage card.
8.6.1.1 If the numbers don’t match, correct the number on the cage
card to the appropriate number. Also note on the cage card
the reason for the change, if known. Record on the daily
census sheet.
8.7 Only have one cage with animals open to a time.
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8.8 Remove the animals from the dirty cage (refer to section 4.0) and place into
the clean cage.
8.9 While doing this, be sure to check the animal’s health. Refer to SOP 03-001:
Daily Observation of Laboratory Animals.
8.9.1 If any animals are found dead, refer to SOP 03-002: Animal
Carcass Disposal.
8.10 After animals are transferred to the clean cage, place the wire lid on.
8.10.1 Never leave an animal unattended while the wire lid is off.
8.11 Place a clean and/or sterilized (if a barrier or immunodeficient animal)
water bottle into the water bottle space in the wire lid.
8.12 Check feed levels and add as necessary for mice, which are fed ad libitum.
8.12.1 Some rodents may be fed a set amount daily. Please refer to
individual protocol instructions in order to feed these animals the
proper amount.
8.13 Place filter top on and put the clean cage back onto the correct shelf and
rack. Put the dirty cage aside & away from the cage-changing surface.
8.14 For barrier-maintained, quarantine and immunodeficient animals, spray
gloved hands and work surface with disinfectant before moving onto
another dirty cage.
8.15 Repeat steps 8.3 through 8.14.
8.16 Once finished with changing the set number of cages for that day, the dirty
cages are removed and placed into the dirty cage-wash room for cleaning.
8.17 Dispose of gloves & wash hands before leaving the room.
8.17.1 If room does not have a sink, wash hands at the nearest available
sink after leaving the room.
9.0 Cages and water bottles from Biohazard Level 2 & above
9.1 Follow steps 8.1 through 8.14
9.2 While within a Class II cabinet, the dirty cage (without the water bottle) will
be placed into an autoclavable bag.
9.2.1 Once all of the cages are bagged, they will be placed unto a cart
located immediately outside the quarantine door.
9.2.2 Another technician will immediately take the cart and place the
cages into the autoclave to be decontaminated.
9.2.2.1 After autoclaving, cages will then be placed into the dirty
cage-wash room to have the soiled bedding disposed of and
the cages properly sanitized. Refer to SOP 04-004:
Bedding Disposal and SOP 04-005: Caging Equipment
Sanitation.
9.3 Water bottles are to be bagged in autoclavable bags & placed into the
autoclave directly after leaving quarantine.
9.3.1 After autoclaving, bottles will then be placed in the dirty cage wash
room where they will be emptied appropriately and the bottles
properly sanitized. Refer to SOP 04-005: Caging Equipment
Sanitation.
04-003