The IACUC requires the placement of sentinel animals in housing areas to assure that the colony remains free of specific pathogens. The Attending Veterinarian manages the university-wide rodent sentinel and quarantine program, and consults with all research faculty members prior to IACUC review and approval of their proposed use of animals. Such animals are periodical euthanized and tested for disease; you may need to build this into both your protocol and project budget. There should be a minimum of 2 animals placed in each room.
Sentinel animals in UMBC’s rodent housing facilities are regularly sent for serology multiplex tests for the presence of a number of pathogens. When the sentinel serology indicates animals are positive for any of the pathogens, at least one animal from each cage of the positive racks in the affected animal rooms will be tested by UMB Comparative Medicine for follow-up serology. Principal investigators will be notified of the follow-up serology results when they become available.
In the case where follow-up serology results are positive, users of the animal facilities should be aware of the following:
- The room(s) are now considered “dirty” and the positive rack(s) will also be marked. Work must be conducted by working from “clean” to “dirty” animals. When working in the “dirty” rooms, animals on the positive rack must be handled last.
- Animals in the positive cages identified on follow-up serology may be euthanized within the animal facility. These animals are not to be moved out of their rooms. Contact the Attending Veterinarian before euthanizing any animals.
- The Attending Veterinarian should be contacted immediately if users have animals in the affected room(s) which are immuno-compromised.
- If ANY animals are moved from these rooms into another room, onto another rack, to another investigator, and/or facility, immediately contact Attending Veterinarian as these animals pose a possible health threat to the animals of other investigators within the facility. Moved animals must be tested.
- Special or additional measures and precautions may be required when accessing the affected rooms (e.g. use of gloves, booties or lab coats).