IACUC Ongoing Training
Dr. Lone Ranger will be conducting studies that will require their rodents to undergo survival surgeries where a cannula device is attached to the skull. Dr. Ranger worries that in group housing, these animals would begin to nibble on each other's cannula devices, making them less effective or potentially unusable. Dr. Ranger has decided he would like to individually house these animals to avoid the risk of damage to the cannula device and ensure the lab is in line with the 3R's. What should Dr. Ranger do to ensure he remains in compliance?
A. Prior to completing the procedures, Dr. Ranger should amend the protocol to have an exemption from the Pair/Group Social Housing program for animals that undergo this procedure. Dr. Ranger should provide justification that outlines the prioritization of animal welfare in tandem with scientific reasoning for the exemption.
B. Dr. Ranger can send an email to the IACUC letting them know he will be exempting animals who undergo the procedure from the Pair/Group Social Housing program.
C. After completing the procedures on 5 mice, Dr. Ranger houses them all separately. Dr. Ranger then amends the protocol to have an exemption from the Pair/Group Social Housing program for animals that undergo this procedure and provides justification that outlines the prioritization of animal welfare in tandem with the scientific reasoning for the exemption.
D. Dr. Ranger completes the procedures and singly houses the animals. No further steps are needed.
Dr. Lone Ranger will be conducting studies that will require their rodents to undergo survival surgeries where a cannula device is attached to the skull. Dr. Ranger worries that in group housing, these animals would begin to nibble on each other's cannula devices, making them less effective or potentially unusable. Dr. Ranger has decided he would like to individually house these animals to avoid the risk of damage to the cannula device and ensure the lab is in line with the 3R's. What should Dr. Ranger do to ensure he remains in compliance?
A. Prior to completing the procedures, Dr. Ranger should amend the protocol to have an exemption from the Pair/Group Social Housing program for animals that undergo this procedure. Dr. Ranger should provide justification that outlines the prioritization of animal welfare in tandem with scientific reasoning for the exemption.
B. Dr. Ranger can send an email to the IACUC letting them know he will be exempting animals who undergo the procedure from the Pair/Group Social Housing program.
C. After completing the procedures on 5 mice, Dr. Ranger houses them all separately. Dr. Ranger then amends the protocol to have an exemption from the Pair/Group Social Housing program for animals that undergo this procedure and provides justification that outlines the prioritization of animal welfare in tandem with the scientific reasoning for the exemption.
D. Dr. Ranger completes the procedures and singly houses the animals. No further steps are needed.
Learner Feedback: The correct answer is A. Prior to conducting any work, the protocol must be amended to ensure compliance is maintained. The Northwestern CCM Pair/Group Social Housing program is based off the Animal Enrichment and Social Housing Policy which ensures Northwestern complies with the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition to the AWA, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends that consideration be given to the social needs and structural environment of animals, and that animals have opportunities to exhibit species-typical activity patterns. The Guide further indicates that “social animals should be housed in stable pairs or groups of compatible individuals unless they must be housed alone for experimental reasons or because of social incompatibility.” Appropriate social interactions among members of the same species (conspecifics) are essential to normal development and well-being.”
In order for Dr. Ranger to remain in compliance with Northwestern policy, the guide, and AWA, they must ensure that the single housing is scientifically justified. This justification must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to conducting the procedure to ensure compliance is maintained. Dr. Ranger can add this justification within the Animal Care Exceptions section of their protocol.