Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine – serie

This highly-readable text provides grounds on how to plan and conduct animal experiments that can be reproduced by others. The book touches on factors that may impact the reproducibility of animal studies including: the animal genetic background, the animal microbial flora, environmental and physiological variables affecting the animal, animal welfare, statistics and experimental design, systematic reviews of animal studies, and the publishing process.   The book addresses advanced undergraduates, graduate students and all scientists working with animals.

This highly-readable text provides grounds on how to plan and conduct animal experiments that can be reproduced by others. The book touches on factors that may impact the reproducibility of animal studies including: the animal genetic background, the animal microbial flora, environmental and physiological variables affecting the animal, animal welfare, statistics and experimental design, systematic reviews of animal studies, and the publishing process.   The book addresses advanced undergraduates, graduate students and all scientists working with animals.

This book shows how and why quality assurance programmes should be implemented in laboratory rodent facilities to monitor animal health and genetic status. It covers common practice to assure the desired level of microbiological and genetic surveillance of both genetically standardized and genetically altered laboratory mice and rats. In particular, the book introduces readers to the standardized genetic nomenclature and provides step-by-step protocols for genetic monitoring of the animals. International standards of health monitoring programs are discussed and statistical aspects thereof are explored. Furthermore, the book reviews common infectious diseases in laboratory rodents and guides the reader in monitoring the animals’ health status through application of current diagnostic methods.   This book adresses researchers, technicians and zookeepers working in laboratory rodent facilities.

This book shows how and why quality assurance programmes should be implemented in laboratory rodent facilities to monitor animal health and genetic status. It covers common practice to assure the desired level of microbiological and genetic surveillance of both genetically standardized and genetically altered laboratory mice and rats. In particular, the book introduces readers to the standardized genetic nomenclature and provides step-by-step protocols for genetic monitoring of the animals. International standards of health monitoring programs are discussed and statistical aspects thereof are explored. Furthermore, the book reviews common infectious diseases in laboratory rodents and guides the reader in monitoring the animals’ health status through application of current diagnostic methods.   This book adresses researchers, technicians and zookeepers working in laboratory rodent facilities.

This book provides a complete guide to all the aspects to consider during planning, establishing and managing ethically and efficiently research animal care and use programs, taking into account all stakeholders involved in the process. Practical information on how to address the general and particular needs of all animal care and use program areas is provided. Consequently, the reader is supported with getting their project ethically and legally compliant, and implemented efficiently with organizing safe and appropriate facilities and equipment as well as hiring sufficiently trained personnel. Furthermore, strategies for impactful internal and external communication are outlined.Responsible use of animals in research can be nothing but teamwork. The environment and professional experience of all involved stakeholders are the key for ensuring quality science, as well as animal and personnel welfare.Research animal care and use programs represent a complex system in which animals, legislation and good practices, facility personnel and researchers interact on a daily basis. Thoughtful planning from the first step ensures animal welfare and improves the quality of in vivo experimentation. This book addresses animal program managers, veterinarians, researchers and technicians working in research animal facilities.Chapter 18 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.