Australian BioResources

Health Monitoring

Summary of health screening

// health monitoring

Regular health screening is performed to ensure that animals remain free of clinical and subclinical infections that are known to impact on animal health and/or research.

The health screening results are monitored by an in-house veterinarian. In addition, any mice that are found to be ill or that die unexpectedly are given a full post mortem.

The health screening is performed by independent laboratories and includes screening for a broad range of viruses, bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms. The samples collected for health monitoring include exhaust air duct samples (EAD), blood, faeces and swabs collected directly from the mice.

Sentinel mice (mice exposed to dirty bedding from other cages) and randomly selected colony mice are screened in addition to environmental samples (EAD).

ABR barriers

Maximum barrier

  • Free of all pathogens on the ABR exclusions list.
  • The recommended barrier for housing of immunodeficient mice.
  • Entry by rederivation, re-animation of frozen embryos/sperm, or generation by the CRISPR MEGA service at ABR.
  • ABR Sales strain mice & some Client strains.
  • Biobubbles 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, Room 16, Room 19
Standard barrier- Level 1

  • P. pneumotropica negative Client strains.
  • Entry permissible by clean health screen from select authorized vendors.
  • Mice must be negative for P. pneumotropica on PCR.
  • PCR testing is not performed for all opportunistic bacterial pathogens. It is possible that low-level infections of other opportunistic pathogens are present.
  • Biobubble 5, 7

Standard barrier – Level 2

  • P. pneumotropica positive Client strains.
  • Entry permissible by clean health screen. P. pneumotropica and K. oxytoca monitored but not excluded.
  • PCR testing is not performed for all opportunistic bacterial pathogens, so it is possible that low level infections of other opportunistic pathogens are also present.
  • Biobubbles 3, 4, 8, 9