Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
work assignment with a senior worker. It is important to
provide assessment of milestones as training progresses in
order to document that newly trained workers are capable
and knowledgeable before being assigned more hazardous
tasks.
An ongoing educational program should be in place to
ensure that all persons working in an animal care and use
program are fully aware of potential hazards involved in
their work, such as physical dangers involved with the
species in use (e.g. bites, scratches, and allergies), zoonotic
organisms, chemical and radiation hazards, and general
safety hazards (e.g. slippery floors, use of live steam in
sanitization procedures and sterilization equipment, and
lifting of heavy objects). The education program should
also ensure that all persons working with animals know
how to recognize, prevent, and render on-site emergency
treatment of occupational accidents and exposures. Insti-
tutions should provide periodic training programs for
employees throughout the year.
Specific Pathogen-free Production
Colonies
Several rhesus monkey production colonies have been
established in the USA with federal assistance to provide
a supply of specific pathogen-free (SPF) macaques for
biomedical uses. The emphasis has been on expanding
rhesus colonies that are free of four agents: B virus, simian
immunodeficiency virus (SIV), simian retrovirus (SRV),
and simian T-cell leukemia virus (STLV). Currently there is
also one NIH-supported pigtailed macaque SPF colony. In
recent years the National Primate Research Centers have
also focused on removing these agents from their colonies
as well. The number of macaques supported by federally
funded SPF programs is estimated to be over 6000. A small
number of enhanced SPF animals are present at several
centers and include animals free from the above-mentioned
four viruses plus cytomegalovirus (CMV), rhesus rotavirus
(RRV), foamy virus, and other agents.
Quarantine
Effective quarantine is essential at all nonhuman primate
facilities to minimize the introduction of disease agents into
established colonies. Quarantine is also necessary at
nonhuman primate import facilities to prevent the entry
into the USA of certain exotic viruses pathogenic to
humans, which are sometimes harbored by imported
nonhuman primates. The entrance of filovirus into the USA
in late 1989 and early 1990 reemphasized the need for
stringent quarantine measures at facilities that import
nonhuman primates. Quarantine facilities are also needed
to monitor animals obtained from facilities within this
country. There is no guarantee that animals in established
domestic colonies are free of disease. The stress of shipping
will sometimes reveal previously subclinical infections and
it is essential that newly arriving animals be properly
separated from the existing research and breeding colony.
VETERINARY CARE, ANIMAL HEALTH,
AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES
Veterinary Care
Veterinary services are an institutional requirement that
may be provided on a full-time, part-time, or consultative
basis. If provided by the latter, participation and visitation
by the consulting veterinarian should be regular and
frequent. Veterinarians working with nonhuman primates
should be experienced in the behavior and husbandry of
nonhuman primates as well as medicine and surgery. It is
essential that the veterinary faculty be involved in all
aspects of the animal care program, including the integra-
tion of the needs of researchers into the health and well-
being of the research subjects.
Quality Control
Quality control is essential for maintaining the good health
of nonhuman primates as well as for reducing the risk of
workers to pathogens inherent with these animals. Whether
by institutional provision, contractual services, or some
combination thereof, microbiological, serological, and
histopathology services must be readily available. These
services are essential to provide adequate characterization
of the colony and supply valuable information to minimize
outbreaks of disease. Quality control is best accomplished
by a person or group of people that have the freedom to
investigate the actual application of SOPs and management
practices and directly report to senior animal care
personnel. This provides a true assessment of the effec-
tiveness of operations without bias.
Isolation
Nonhuman primates known or suspected of having
a contagious disease should be isolated from healthy
animals in the colony. Facilities should have a designated
room or isolation area and an isolation plan for holding
such animals if the need arises.
Necropsy Procedures
Necropsies of nonhuman primates pose significant hazards
to workers in animal facilities. These hands-on procedures
for close visual observation of organs and tissues possibly
harboring and releasing pathogens, both known and
unknown, into the environment involve considerable risks.
