Preface It is our immense pleasure to come out with this edition of ‘‘Handbook on Care and Management of Laboratory and Pet Animals’’. The book has been authored in accordance with the syllabi prescribed by Veterinary Council of India (VCI), New Delhi for under graduate students of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry all over India. The book includes comprehensive and up-to-date information on the topics highlighted and also deals with animal ethics and welfare of Laboratory and Pet Animals in precise manner and in simple language, which becomes easy for students to understand. There are many books available on this subject covered in this text giving details of many aspects of topics, but definitely there was a long felt need of availability of updated information in concise form at single source. We have strived at our level best to fulfill this necessity of the subjects. Further, an attempt has been made to incorporate quality figures, charts, illustrations and photographs in the books as per need and availability. We hope, the text will be suitable and useful for students including those appearing for competitive examinations, teachers and scientists. We humbly request our readers and users of this text to come forward by offering their suggestions and comments, which will be sincerely taken in positive spirit for improvement of next edition ,if at all Almighty wishes to bring out the same in future.

This is a branch of veterinary science that deals with the biology of animal when they are in good health condition, disease status and also deals with the selection of the laboratory animal, important care to be taken and also the usage of these laboratory animals in experiment and also for other research activities. IMPORTANCE / SCOPE FOR STUDY Veterinarian with special training/ advanced training in laboratory animal medicine and management are required by medical school, pharmaceutical industries, private and government organization, hospitals, research institutes. This field of veterinary science has become highly dynamic and it provides good opportunities to satisfy academic professional career. Usage of these laboratory animals goes back to 2nd Century. However, the systematic and systemic usage came into existence a century back when research workers started working on polio vaccine. Since then, a debate is going on between scientists of different organizations regarding the usage of laboratory animals.

All scientists working with laboratory animals must have a deep ethical consideration for the animals they are dealing with. From the ethical point of view it is important that such considerations are taken care at the individual level, at Institutional level and finally at the national level. Individually each investigator has an obligation to abide by all the ethical guidelines laid down in this regard at institutional level. The Head of the institution, maintaining animals for scientific experiments , should constitute an animal ethics committee on animal experimentation to ensure that all experiments conducted on animals are rational , do not cause undue pain or suffering to the animals and only minimum number of animals are used. The constitution and term of reference of the animal ethic committee should be well defined. An animal ethic committee should include: a senior biological scientist of the institute, two scientists from different biological disciplines, a veterinarian involved in care of animals, the scientist in charge of animal facility, a scientist from outside the institute & a nonscientific socially aware member. A specialist may be co-opted while reviewing special projects using hazardous agents such as radioactive substance and deadly micro-organisms etc. The investigator may be called in for any clarification if required. The ethics committee has to examine all projects involving use of animals before implementation, to ensure that minimum number of animals is used in the project and the ethical guidelines are strictly adhered to. It will also examine that the scientists and technicians handling animals possess adequate skill to perform the experiment. All animals should be maintained under standard living conditions and experiments will be conducted under proper anesthesia and termination of an experiment, the animal will be humanely sacrificed under anesthesia. Before disposal it must be ensured that the animal is clinically dead.

CLASSIFICATION Wistar albino Sprague Dawley Long Evans Charles Wistar Albino Wistar albino is common strain found in most laboratories and used extensively for research. They have the following characteristics: (i) Less resistance of inflammation, (ii) No incidence of spontaneous tumor. Sprague Dawley

Rabbits: Housed in mesh floor cages made of galvanized iron, aluminium or steel. Cleaning should be done regularly (but not within the animal room). Clean feed, water should be given to animals to keep them free of diseases. Guinea pig: In case of guinea pig, environmental factors play a very important role → Temperature, relative humidity, lighting and ventilation. Temp → 18-21°C for all laboratory animals Relative Humidity → 45-55% Lighting → 12-16 hours for normal physiological activity. Ventilation → Min 12-15 changes of air for animal room. This can be provided with the help of exhaust fan. For guinea pig, temperature should not go beyond 30°C, because they cannot dissipate heat from body and they suffer from heat stress and heat frustration because they have loose fold of skin. Highly susceptible for respiratory infection, so adequate ventilation should be given. They can be housed on wire mesh, floor, and cages. Also directly on floor provided with bedding material → paddy/ ragi straw. In some animal facilities they give saw dust as bedding material. For Guinea Pig saw dust should be given as bedding material as they get adhered to vulva that causes irritation and also it blocks the vulva. There will be reduction in fecundity of the animal →worst

Proper records can be maintained and individual performance can be noted. Disadvantages: A number of males should be maintained which is not economical. Advantages of polygamous mating: Economical because 1 male can be used for 4-5 females. We can use postpartum estrus effectively. Immediately after parturition after 7 days they come to heat. Breeding can be done 7 days after parturition after separating the young ones. [Weaning age 21 days] But this is usually not followed because the number of young ones born reduces subsequently. Disadvantages: Proper records cannot be maintained.

Mice are omnivores and can be fed with commercial feeds like pellets or fed with mixed feed which is locally available cereal, pulses and grains. However, nutritionally requirement of mice Carbohydrates - 45-55% Protein - 16- 24% Fibre - 4-5% Fat - 4-6% Supplement vitamin and minerals.

GUINEA PIGS Guinea Pigs are herbivores and they can be fed with green grass, vegetable wastes, sprouted grains and commercially available diet and diets made of locally available cereals, pulses. Guinea Pig are not able to synthesize vitamin C. So it has to be supplemented externally through diet and supplementation should be 120 mg of body weight. Guinea Pig are highly fastidious animals (strict about their diet and their requirement i.e., they are choosy in their diet). Minimum Requirement Pr - 16-20% Fat - 4% CHO - 30-35% Fibre - about 10%

Extension worker play a important role in rabbit keeping. It increases food production and experience in rabbit farming, people has to be educated as they have no knowledge of rabbit keeping especially people of towns and villages. These have to be told the advantages of rabbitry. It is difficult to convince villagers, so extension is very important. Rabbit Census : Recently taken up. In Karnataka, census was taken in 1990. There were 16,327 animals.

Buck can be mated to several does not gives many young ones. So quality of buck will be passed on to many number of young one. Choose bucks whose relatives have good commercial character performance can be known by looking at breeding record should have too well development testicle, have good growth, good healthy condition, not be too fat, good physical condition. Best time is when animal is 2 kgs of body weight and age of 3-4 months. It is advisable to purchase buck from good reliable source since it brings new characteristics and avoid inbreeding. The mating of the buck of particular breed with die of another breed is cross breeding usually cross breeding has better commercial value → Hybrids which has hybrid vigour → grow faster, better litter size. Usually breeding of 2 hybrid is not advisable because we will not be sure which hybrid characteristics will be passed on to young ones. The back yard rabbitry has mixed breeding programme of low quality with reference to commercial characteristics. To improve back yard rabbitry, good well known breeding buck should be introduced to have better performance.

CARE AND MANAGEMENT Pregnant female should be fed with green, fresh vegetable, green leaves. Only with good management, healthy young ones can be expected. Similar to birds, rabbits have Nest building behaviour. Around 25 days of pregnancy, keep the pregnant animal in cage provided with bedding material separately. Around 28 days, the female makes nest by pulling the fur from abdominal region and also bedding material. The fur from abdominal region is pulled to make teats clean for young ones to suck milk. If female makes good nest, it can be concluded that it will be a good mother. Some females due to disturbance are unable to make nest and also abandon young ones, go astray. Act of parturition in rabbit is kindling and it takes place in early hours of day and late evenings. Full process is completed in 90 minutes. In some females, aggressive behaviour is seen. Such aggressive females have good mothering ability.

DISEASES OF RABBITS The Disease Occurrence in rabbit colony is minimal if good sanitation and hygiene measures are followed. Diseases are caused by Bacteria, Viral, Parasitic and managemental. Bacterial Disease Pasteurellosis → similar to Haemorrahgic septicaemia Organism → Pasterurella multocida Affects respiratory system with difficulty in breathing. Temperature 103 ° F Occulonasal discharge observed. Lab → Blood smear shows bipolar organisms by Giemsa stain. Treatment → Sulpha drugs, long acting tetracyclines.

Mainly reared for wool production. They require cooler environment to have better wool growth. The rearing is restricted to hilly regions where the weather is cool which helps in better wool production. Qualitative Quantitative Quality-Length of the wool, texture of wool, shininess/ brightness of wool. During marketing, classified into 3 categories: Grade I → Rs. 1000/ kg Grade II → Rs. 600-800 Grade III → Rs. 400-600

Dogs, Cats and birds are pet animals. Chromosome number of dogs-78 Good Angora breed yield wool of 2-2 ½ “ an average. On record, 8” of wool is also obtained.

HOUSING Dogs are kept in cages and they are tied with a chain in one corner of the house or left free in the house → but hair falling will be seen throughout → allergy. House in wire mesh all round and wooden flooring → gives warmth to animal. Roof can be made of asbestos sheet. Cage → 2 ft LX 3 ft BX4 ft H. This should be kept in a cool place. With cement covering all round with mesh door asbestos roofing. Dog is always chained. This should be long enough and strong enough to withstand pulling of animal. Along with this collar is provided with strong buckles. Docile animals can be left free in the house → Pomerian, Dash hound, Dobberman should be chained. Petting too much leads to transmission of diseases → parasite and allergy.

Adult female is called bitch and adult male is called dog. Female comes to heat which is called season. Comes to season for first time at 6-8 months of age. Smaller breeds mature faster than large breeds. SYMPTOMS OF HEAT Females in heat becomes nuisance to both owner and public since the animal becomes unmanageable, goes out of house and sometimes street male dogs gets into house because of peculiar pheromone smell. Has different stages

LICENSE, REGISTRATION & INSURANCE FOR DOGS To keep dog, license from local Municipality or Panchayat. Only when certified for vaccination against rabies is shown, license is given to rear dog. Registeration of Pups Pups from the registered parent should be registered as soon as it is born. Pups should be registered with Kennel club. Registered usually where parents are registered. Immediately after the birth, pup should be registered. Dog Show Most registered Kennel clubs conduct Dog show. They allow the dog to participate only if it is registered with the club. Usually Kennel club avoid prizes to animal. To give prize, they should have the following classification :

CATS Cats are classified under family Felidae. Felidae is divided into 3 sub families. False sabes (Toothed cats) Felids (Cats → Felinae) Big felids (Pantherine) Felinae 28 species, have been classified in 15 genera. Chromosome no 2n=38. Exterior Morphology of Cats

MANAGEMENT Management includes housing, feeding, disease control. India is rich in bird population → 8650 species distributed through more than 2000 species are found in India alone. This is due to diversity of habitat and favourable climate condition. Birds population is restricted to Rajasthan and Himalayan region i.e., in desert, hilly region, forest and also in grass lands → habitat. Diversity of habitat → mentioned in Rig Vedic period. Even people are distributed among different regions.

IDENTIFICATION OF BODY PARTS Objectives To become familiar with external parts of the body Physical examination Administration of medicine or substances Oral administration : can be done with the help of syringes or stomach Tube. In large animals, mouth gag is used before passing stomach tube.

HANDLING OF ANIMALS Objectives For carrying or shifting the animal Sexing the animal – to know the sexing of animal. Administration of substances To conduct experiments. Materials required – Laboratory animals, apron, tattle and clean towel, weighing balance.

HOUSING OF LABORATORY ANIMALS Objectives The important criteria to be kept in mind for the construction of animal house are: Got to satisfy the requirements of animal care takers and animal technician whose place of work it is. Got to satisfy animals which are house in animal house. Research workers who conduct research on animal in the laboratory should be satisfied. Materials required- Small animal house, Animal colonies, type of cages and equipments.

IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMALS It has been in practice since long, not recent item in livestock farming. In earlier day’s in Egyptian era, people used to mark the animal to identify their animals. But in recent days, due to development in bio-medical science where usage of animal has increased within turn has become necessary to establish a suitable identification method for various species of animal. There are many methods available to identified animal, however the methods employed should be simple, economical and easy to identify animal and should be harmless to animal, quickly applicable and should be suitable to experiment conducted.

RECORD KEEPING Objectives To carry out the routine activities of animal house Breeding of animals Materials required- Different types of record Proper record keeping is very important and it is also highly essential to carry out the animal house activity in a systematic manner. The records should be simple, complete and should preferably be computer compatible. The records are kept and maintained in different forms. Unnecessary information should be avoided in these records. The records of breeding, experimental animal and morality of animals are highly essential. Other records are:

COMPOSITION OF DIET Objectives To study the general considerations on feeding aspects of laboratory animals. To get acquainted with the specific nutritional requirements of laboratory manures. To familiarize with the watering system. To know the daily feed schedule of different species of laboratory animal. Materials Required Laboratory animals, feed ingredients, water, green vegetables. For having good growth and production, proper balanced diet should be fed, thus nutrients can be classified into 6 classes:

Objectives To keep the laboratory animal house neat and clean To maintain healthy stock The disease may be bacterial, viral, fungal or of parasitic origin. All the measures taken to reduce growth and also to control spread of pathogenic organism is a sanitary measure like ventilation, building without cracks crevices. Important aspect of good sanitation is insect control or pest control. Most effective measure is to just chase them out. To achieve this :

Objectives To acquaint with the various methods of sterilization and disinfection used in laboratory animals. Materials Required Boiler, autoclave, hot air oven, chemical disinfection. Sterilization It is a process of the complete removal or destruction of living organisms including viruses, vegetative forms and spores. Sterilization is an absolute term. Nothing can be “partially sterile’’, either, it is or it is ‘not’. An article must be protected from recontamination after sterilization.

Committee recognized throughout world on laboratory animal called International Committee on Laboratory Animal (ICLA) This committee is responsible to make the rules and regulations and laws which governs production, maintenance and usage of laboratory animal. This committee has defined Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animal which are free of specified micro organisms and parasites but not necessarily free of the ones which are not specified. Example pasteurella free SPF animal. Synonyms of SPF Animals Disease free animal Healthy animal Pathogen free animal Clean animal Caesarian derived animal The main aim for the production of GFA is for isolation of animal free of all organism.

Introduction Germfree (GF) animal is one which is isolated from all demonstrable living microorganisms like bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, algae, yeast. The aim of GF work is isolation (Prevent contamination from air, water, food and environment). It can be attained mechanically and scientifically. GF animal research began in 1895 but in 1897 Nuttall and Thierfelder started to rear GF guinea pigs in their lab. Chicks are classical animal for GF research. Rats and mice are reared through reproduction. Permanent breeding colonies of these have been established. Synonyms : Axenic animal –meaning free from strange. Gnotobiotic – known life derived from Greek word-Gnoto & biota means known flora & fauna. Gnotobiote (Gnotobiotic animal ) : Is an animal derived by aseptic caesarian or sterile tatching of eggs that is restored & continuously maintained with Germ free technique under isolator condition in which flora & fauna is clearly defined. Flora animal: A gnotobiote maintained under isolator condition in international association with one or more known types of microorganisms.

Important by product from Rabbit are meat, wool, planner and skin. It can be made highly profitable if products are properly processed and marketed. Many rabbit products are wasted because people do not have enough knowledge about their processing. Rabbit farming is profitable preservation of its by-product. Slaughtering: Know when and how. Slaining: Familiar with how to remove skin and carcass preparation and processing. How the skin has to be processed into a product from the skin obtained. Manure: Know how to collect and preserve it.

INTRODUCTION Rabbit production is the upcoming livestock farming throughout the world. The domestic rabbit are raised meat, fur –skins and wool. Climatic condition of Karnataka are not favourable for raising wool breeds of rabbits, but are definitely well for broiler rabbit production. Rabbits require less space for housing and highly prolific. Initial investment for rabbits farming is very less and maintenance cost is also very low. There is no religious barriers in rabbit meet consumption and rabbit meat contains very low cholesterol when compared to the other meats. Rabbit farming can be very well fit into mixed farming systems. It can be adopted by small and marginal for maximum utilization of lands and resources, and to derive substantial income under rural condition.

ETHICS OF ANIMAL USE IN RESEARCH The use of animals in scientific research is a controversial issue. Animals have been used throughout the history for anatomical and physiological research as well as for testing toxic substances. Many medical advances, including vaccines for polio and rabies, the development of certain antibiotics, anti cancer agents and transplant medicine have been developed by using animals in research. But the question is whether it is right or wrong to use animals for these purposes. All scientists working with laboratory animals must have a deep ethical consideration for the animals they are dealing with. From the ethical point of view it is important that such considerations are taken care at the individual level, at institutional level and finally at the national level. What are Ethics ?

Accurately in the clinical diagnosis of a disease in experimental animals frequently depends on the result of laboratory examination of blood specimen from the diseased animals. A prerequisite for good experiment result is the proper collection and handling of the blood samples. If properly collected samples can not be sent to the laboratory quickly. It must be preserved or stored in such a manner that the necessary tests may be conducted. The technician/researchers Going to collect the blood from a laboratory animal should be aware of the purpose of blood collection, the sites of blood collection, the technique of blood collection, the Use of various anti coagulants, the techniques of blood examination. Blood Examination of Animal may be Necessary

Reproductive is fundamental property of living beings. While lower animals reproduce by simple methods, the higher animals attain greater degree of animals reproduce by complexities in the reproductive functions. Basic units (Gonads) of males and females are testis and ovaries respectively. The gonads of each sex perform dual roles: Formation of gametes (sperms by testis and ovum by the ovaries) Production of hormones. Role of Hormones in Reproduction

The term Anesthesia means loss of sensation. GENERAL ANESTHESIA In the technique of anesthesia, a drug is capable of causing loss of sensation together with loss of consciousness, sufficient to allow a surgical operation to be carried out. Routes of General Anesthesia (G.A.) Inhalation Ether, Nitrous oxide, Halothane, Chloroform etc.

NATIONAL LEVEL FACILITIES OF LABORATORY ANIMALS National Laboratory Animal Centre, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences (NCLAS) National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad INSTITUTIONAL LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES AT

Benirschke, K., Garner, F.M. and Jones, T.C., 1978, Pathology of Laboratory Animals. Bhardwaj, K.R. and D. S. Upadhyay, 1994, Laboratory Animals for Research. Christine, S.T.Williams, 1977, Practical Guide to Lab Animals. Conalty, M.L., Flynn, R.J., 1967, Husbandry of Laboratory Animals. References Donald. L. Connor. The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents Lea and Fobiger, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia, London. Estherverhoef-Verhallen, 1997, The Complete Encyclopedia of Rabbits and Rodents. George S. Templeton , 1976, Domestic Rabbit Production. Jadhav, N.V., M.J. Baig & A.A. Devangare, 2004, Handbook of Wild Animals & LM., Academa Publishers. James, G., Fox, Bennet, J. Cohen and Loew, F.M., 1984. Laboratory Animal Medicine. National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council Medical Research, Hyderabad- 500 007, A.P. Sharma, M. C., N. N. Pathak & P.N. Bhat, 2001, Dogs Breeding, Nutrition, Diagnosis and Health Management. Trevor Poole Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals. Vol -1 Terrestrial Vertebrates. Williams C. Micker. Practical Animal Husbandry.