Screening for Mouse and Rat Biologicals, Including Serum, Tumors, and Cell Lines for Use in the NG Vivarium, the Y2 Barrier, or the JA Vivarium

UT Southwestern IACUC Policy IACUC # 207

Updated:____12/23/08_____ 1 of 3

Rationale:

Pathogens diminish the quality of life for rodents by causing disease and discomfort. Pathogens can lead to the misinterpretation of scientific results as well as serve as a source of infection for disease outbreaks in animal housing facilities. Maintaining specific pathogen free (SPF) rodent colonies is essential for animal health and the continued integrity and quality of scientific research conducted at UT Southwestern.

Policy:

To decrease the chance of introducing rodent pathogens into the NG Vivarium, the Y2 Barrier, or the JA Vivarium from serum, tumors, and cell lines, and to reduce the risk of introducing zoonotic agent(s) to personnel from serum, tumor, and cell lines, these materials must be screened and confirmed to be negative before use (e.g. injection or implantation) in UT Southwestern rodents in these facilities. For all other facilities, please consult Dr. Mary Wight-Carter in the ARC Diagnostic Lab.

Applicability:

Materials to be tested include:

Any serum, tumor or cell line that originated from mice or rats.
Any serum, tumor or cell line that originated from humans but was then passed through mice /rats.
Any serum, tumor or cell line that has been passed through UT Southwestern rodents in any areas outside of NG Vivarium, the Y2 Barrier, or the JA Vivarium and that will be introduced by injection/implantation into mice or rats in the NG Vivarium, the Y2 Barrier, or the JA Vivarium. Note: this means re-testing is required even if cells were tested prior to passing through rodents.
Any serum, tumor or cell line that has not been tested for pathogens in the past five years.
Any serum, tumor or cell line not already used in rodents at UT Southwestern.

Materials that do not need to be tested include:

Any serum, tumor or cell line determined by the IACUC in a convened meeting to be exempt from this policy.
Any serum, tumor or cell line that has not been passed through mice /rats.

Instructions:

Serum, tumor or cell lines must be screened either by PCR, a Mouse Antibody Production Test (MAP) or a Rat Antibody Production Test (RAP). The investigator must have the biologicals MAP, RAP or PCR tested for the pathogens identified below before the IACUC will approve a protocol using them in rodents. Evidence of testing must be provided to the IACUC at the time of initial protocol review or with a request for amendment of an approved protocol (if adding a new serum, tumor, and cell line after a protocol already has begun). The IACUC office will route the documentation to an ARC veterinarian for review and will obtain veterinary permission before protocol approval (or approval of an amendment) will be given.

Mouse

Standard testing includes the following agents: Minute virus of mice, Mouse parvovirus, Pneumonia virus of mice , Reovirus 3, Mouse hepatitis virus, Mouse rotavirus, Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (GD7), Sendai virus, Mycoplasma spp, Polyoma virus, K virus, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Ectromelia virus, Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus, and Mouse adenovirus (MAV).

Rat

Standard testing includes the following agents: Rat parvovirus, Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), Reovirus3, Sialodacryoadenititis virus , Kilham’s rat virus, Toolan’s H1 virus, Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis like virus (GDVII/rat cardiovirus), Sendai virus, Mycoplasma spp, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Hantavirus Seoul, Rat coronovirus, Rat minute virus (RMV), and Mouse adenovirus (MAV).

Test Panels Required for the NG Vivarium, the Y2 Barrier, and the JA Vivarium

To get test panels done:

1. Use the UTSW Diagnostic Lab

Contact the ARC diagnostic lab at 8-4132 or ARCdxlab@utsouthwestern.edu for questions regarding sample submission or to receive a pre-negotiated price from a commercial vendor.

2. Use an outside vendor

Vendor	Mouse Panel	Rat Panel
U. of Missouri-RADIL 1-800-669-0825	IMPACT II K virus	Rat IMPACT Profile V
Charles River Labs 1-800-338-9680	Mouse Essential Panel PVM and K virus	Rat Panel PVM and MAV
Taconic 1-888-822-6642	Rapid MAP-24	Rapid MAP-27
Bioreliance 1-800-553-5372	Premium Assay # 104251	Non-GLP RAP-IT RPV, RMV, MAV, LCMV, and Mycoplasma spp.

Exceptions:

Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the IACUC.

Contact Information:

For any additional questions, please contact the IACUC Manager at x 5-6420 or consult with the ARC Veterinary staff.