Rodents used for research are maintained in tightly controlled environments designed to reduce the impact of unwanted variables in animal experiments (see Laboratory Animals). Many factors have the potential to influence biologic responses or the results of a laboratory test. Research journals often require standardized descriptions of research rodents and their environment in the materials and methods section, as part of the description of the experiment. Environmental conditions, husbandry procedures, and animals must be similar if research data generated from one laboratory is to be compared with data from others. If variables are not properly controlled, results may be of limited use or even useless. One of the most important variables is the effect of infectious agents on research mice and rats.
Few infectious agents found in laboratory mice and rats today cause overt, clinical disease. Critical to interpreting the microbiologic status of laboratory animals is distinguishing between infection and disease. Infection indicates the presence of microorganisms, which may be pathogens, opportunists, or commensals, of which the last two are most numerous. Clinical disease does not need to be present for microorganisms to affect research. Animals that appear normal and healthy may be unsuitable as research subjects due to the unobservable but significant local or systemic effects of viruses, bacteria, and parasites with which they may be infected.
Diagnosis of infections in research rodent colonies is often based on serology, although molecular methods of detection (eg, PCR) are increasingly being used. The laboratories that perform serologic assays primarily test groups of research animals.
Rodents used for research are maintained in tightly controlled environments designed to reduce the impact of unwanted variables in animal experiments (see Laboratory Animals). Many factors have the potential to influence biologic responses or the results of a laboratory test. Research journals often require standardized descriptions of research rodents and their environment in the materials and methods section, as part of the description of the experiment. Environmental conditions, husbandry procedures, and animals must be similar if research data generated from one laboratory is to be compared with data from others. If variables are not properly controlled, results may be of limited use or even useless. One of the most important variables is the effect of infectious agents on research mice and rats.
Few infectious agents found in laboratory mice and rats today cause overt, clinical disease. Critical to interpreting the microbiologic status of laboratory animals is distinguishing between infection and disease. Infection indicates the presence of microorganisms, which may be pathogens, opportunists, or commensals, of which the last two are most numerous. Clinical disease does not need to be present for microorganisms to affect research. Animals that appear normal and healthy may be unsuitable as research subjects due to the unobservable but significant local or systemic effects of viruses, bacteria, and parasites with which they may be infected.
Diagnosis of infections in research rodent colonies is often based on serology, although molecular methods of detection (eg, PCR) are increasingly being used. The laboratories that perform serologic assays primarily test groups of research animals.