量研学術機関リポジトリ「QST-Repository」は、国立研究開発法人 量子科学技術研究開発機構に所属する職員等が生み出した学術成果（学会誌発表論文、学会発表、研究開発報告書、特許等）を集積しインターネット上で広く公開するサービスです。 Welcome to QST-Repository where we accumulates and discloses the academic research results(Journal Publications, Conference presentation, Research and Development Report, Patent, etc.) of the members of National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology.
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Genetically modified laboratory mice are frequently transferred among research institutions. When these mice are quarantined, sentinel animals are used to indirectly monitor the health of the mice in order to avoid having to sacrifice the valuable genetically modified mice. Recent data on the health monitoring of laboratory mice indicate that opportunistic infections are more common than severe contagious infections. During quarantine, test animals and sentinel animals should be placed in the same cage because opportunistic infections often exhibit low levels of transmissibility. However, it is important to prevent fighting among the animals. Thus, we developed a new cage lid, made of a stainless steel wire screen, having a screen barrier for partitioning a cage into compartments.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the cage lid with the partitioning barrier, the transmission of Cilia-Associated Respiratory (CAR) bacillus was tested. A total of 40 specific-pathogen-free(SPF) mice were used. Sixteen mice were inoculated intranasally with the SMR strain of the CAR bacillus under light ether anesthesia. Two inoculated mice were placed in one compartment and 3 uninfected sentinel mice were placed in the other compartment. Each cage was covered with the lid we developed. At weekly intervals, the five mice were sacrificed by exsanguination under anesthesia and were examined.
Using a PCR assay, the 16S rRNA gene from the CAR bacillus was detected from swab samples of the larynx and the respiratory organs of both inoculated and sentinel mice at 4 weeks. Histopathologically, CAR bacilli were shown on the surface of the epithelium of the respiratory tracts of both inoculated and sentinel mice at 4 weeks. Typical bronchopneumonia and peribronchitis were observed in both inoculated and sentinel mice at 5 weeks. Serologically, IFA antibodies against the CAR bacillus were detected in both inoculated and sentinel mice at 6 weeks.
The cage lid with the partitioning barrier we developed is very useful when sentinel animals are used in the quarantine of laboratory mice, such as genetically modified or immunodeficient mice, because sacrifice of valuable genetically modified mice should be avoided, and because immunodeficient mice cannot produce serum antibodies.
Lid with barrier for partitioning cage for laboratory animals
