TITLE: UC Davis - Acquisition/Acclimation/Quarantine
AUTHORS: K.C. Kent Lloyd

[DESCRIPTION]
<div class = "text-blocks"><div class = "text-block"><span style = "font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;">Summary</span></div><div class = "text-block">The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to provide steps for the acquisition, acclimation and quarantine of animals obtained from other institutions or laboratories and introduced to the MBP Vivarium with minimal risk to the current mouse colony population. This procedure applies to the import/export staff, veterinary staff and any principal investigator requesting animals. </div></div>

[STEPS]
?. 1.1 Laboratory rodents must be purchased from vendors that have been approved by the MBP veterinary staff; e.g., Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc., Charles River Laboratories, The Jackson Laboratory, Taconic, etc.         1.1.1 Vendor approval is based on vendor health surveillance data generated by either the vendor or commercial diagnostic laboratories.1.2 Occasionally there is a need to obtain and maintain rodents from a "non-approved" commercial vendor or from other sources (e.g. research facilities). Please note that, if the investigator requires rodents from a non-approved vendor, he/she has certain responsibilities. The investigator's cooperation in following these policies is essential. If an investigator does not abide by the policy and animals are either ordered or arrive unexpectedly, they will not be accepted. In order to protect our pathogen-free colonies from exposure to new pathogens, the following procedures are to be followed:           1.2.1 Justification of need and health concerns must be reviewed by the MBP veterinarian. The following must be submitted in written form:                      1.2.1.1 Investigator must scientifically justify the need, and include the lack of alternative specific-pathogen-free sources to the IACUC. Cost alone should not be considered adequate justification.           1.2.2 The source facility must provide an adequate health history of the specific colony to the MBP import/export manager. The name, address and telephone number of the attending veterinarian at the source should also be provided.                     1.2.2.1 Rodents from U.S. colonies must be demonstrated to be free from known zoonotic pathogens; e.g., Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Haantan virus. Serologic surveillance data sampled within two months of proposed shipment date on the source colony must be presented. The source colony must test negative to the commonly occurring murine pathogens. All rodents must be tested for mites, pinworms and helicobactor.                    1.2.2.2 A written statement of the general overall health of the animals from the source veterinarian is required.             1.2.3 Evaluation of the information will be made by the MBP veterinarian. Further testing, acceptance or rejection will be at the discretion of the MBP veterinarian.1.3 The following information must be provided to the import/export manager:        Number of animals to be shipped         Strain (age, sex, etc.)        Degree of immunosuppression, if any        Housing/care requirements (i.e. SPF/Barrier housed, conventional housing, own room or multi-room, autoclaved,   filter top, single housed or group)         State of housing/care at current facility (i.e. if barrier housed, what gowning and cage changing procedures are in place)1.4 The MBP veterinarian will approve or reject the shipment based on above information from 4.2.2 and 4.2.3.  1.5 The MBP veterinarian will discuss the intended usage of the animals with the investigator to ascertain what precautions, if any, need to be taken. If rodents need to be taken to a laboratory, surgical facility, or other area prior to quarantine where they may possibly contaminate other rodents, protocols would be developed to minimize or preclude inadvertent cross-contamination.  1.6 The import/export manager will proceed with importation arrangements. The PI will be contacted and asked to provide the following information:  Address where invoice is to be sent. Account number for animal care or if paying by check. (Payment procedure memo is sent with the first invoice.) 1.7 The purchasing officer must be contacted prior to placing the order. A Special Request Form must be received before the order can be processed.  1.8 The PI will be contacted notifying him/her of expected arrival date of the animals by the import/export manager.  1.9 On arrival, the animals will be placed in importation quarantine for 4-6 weeks. Samples will be collected from sentinels exposed to dirty bedding, and tested for murine pathogens listed as above. During quarantine, all personnel must follow guidelines posted on door for entry. Animals may be utilized for research during this time (i.e. breeding) but must NOT leave the quarantine room. Exceptions must be discussed with the MBP veterinarian.  1.10 Once test results are received and are negative, the MBP veterinarian will approve the release of animals from quarantine. The PI will be contacted by the import/export manager once animals are ready for release from quarantine.