AALAS INTRODUCTION TO RATS
viruses - correct answer Hantavirus
Hantavirus is a - correct answer bunyavirus which can be transmitted by rodent species. The virus is transmitted to man by excretions and aerosols from the lungs, saliva, and urine of infected animals.
Bacteria: - correct answer Leptospira spp.
Salmonella spp.
Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus
Leptospira spp. - correct answer Rats may be a reservoir for Leptospira spp. bacteria, which are shed in the urine.
Transmission occurs by contact with urine and tissues, or inhalation or ingestion of aerosol droplets.
Humans with leptospirosis may have influenza-like symptoms, orchitis, rash, skin and mucosal hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, hepatorenal failure, jaundice, encephalitis, and pneumonia.
Salmonella spp. - correct answer Rats may carry Salmonella spp., which are ubiquitous in nature. These bacteria are transmitted via the fecal-oral route.
Humans infected with Salmonella may have inapparent clinical signs (and be carriers) or may have a - correct answer febrile enterocolitis, septicemia, and focal infections in diverse tissues. Increased severity of the disease occurs due to reduced immunocompetence, e.g., in persons with AIDS, neoplasia, immunosupression therapy, etc., and due to treatment with antibiotics.
Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus - correct answer Rats may carry Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus as commensal organisms living in the nasopharynx. Transmission to humans occurs by rat bite. Symptoms may include wound inflammation, lymphadenopathy, fever, headache, malaise, myalgia, joint pain, and arthritis.
Fungi: - correct answer Sporothrix schenckii
Trichophyton spp.
Sporothrix schenckii is - correct answer fungus associated with multiple species, including rats.
Humans acquire Sporothrix schenckii via bites or direct contact. Disease manifests as a nodule on the hand or arm, which may progress with additional nodules forming along the path of lymphatic vessels. Deep visceral infections may also occur.
Tricophytum are - correct answer dermatophytic fungi that grow in the skin and hair follicles and cause a condition of reddened skin and patchy hair loss known as ringworm. The symptoms are the same in animals and humans. Infection may be inapparent in individual animals.
Dermatophytes are spread by direct contact. Fungal spores are long-lived and may become widely dispersed in the environment.
parasites: - correct answer Hymenolepsis nana is a common type of tapeworm, and is transmissible to humans. Depending on the parasite burden, humans may have no apparent clinical signs or may have nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and central nervous system signs (agitation).
What occupational health and safety concerns are NOT relevant to performing research on rats? - correct
answer Risks for zoonotic diseases when working with healthy specific-pathogen free rats
Alternative procedures are those which may: - correct answer - replace animals with nonanimal methods,
- reduce the number of animals used, or
- refine the methodology to minimize animal pain or distress. The assurance often takes the form of a written narrative that describes what sources were used to determine that alternatives were not available. Typically, you may be asked to provide the results of a database search including information on: - correct answer 1. The databases searched
2. The date the search was performed
3. The years of citations covered by database searches
4. The key words and/or search strategy used when searching a database
It is strongly recommended that this information be sought during development of a protocol.
What information should be provided with the results of a database search for alternatives? - correct answer The names of the databases used, the date of the search, the years of citations accessed, and the
key words and/or search strategy
What is a procedure? - correct answer A procedure is any activity carried out on the animal, such as a controlled behavioral task (e.g., use of a maze), food or water restriction, blood collection, breeding, or surgery.
This periprocedural care requirement covers: - correct answer - properly preparing the animal to humanely undergo the procedure;
- supporting the animal's physiological functions during the procedure; and
- providing additional supportive care to aid the animal in recovering from the procedure.
The investigator has the responsibility to see that staff working with the animals are properly trained to not only perform - correct answer the procedure humanely but also to provide the necessary supportive care to the animals.
An investigator's responsibilities towards the use of laboratory animals include assuring that staff is properly trained for which of the following? - correct answer - Provide the necessary supportive care to the animals during a procedure.
- Provide the necessary supportive care to the animals following a procedure.
- Perform the animal procedures humanely.
Typical Rat Housing - correct answer Rats are generally housed in shoebox cages with a solid floor covered with bedding material that absorbs liquid wastes. Most institutions use microisolation cages,
