ALAT Animal Husbandry and Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended relative humidity range for most laboratory rodent housing facilities?
- 20–30%
- 30–70% (Correct answer)
- 70–90%
- 10–20%
Correct answer: 30–70%
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends 30–70% relative humidity for most rodent species.
Question 2: A mouse is observed barbering cage-mates, causing patchy hair loss. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Euthanize the affected mice
- Separate the barber mouse from cage-mates (Correct answer)
- Increase antibiotic supplementation in water
- Reduce light cycle to 8 hours
Correct answer: Separate the barber mouse from cage-mates
Isolating the barbering animal is the primary behavioral intervention to prevent further hair loss in cage-mates.
Question 3: Which route of administration is used when delivering a substance directly into the abdominal cavity of a rodent?
- Subcutaneous (SQ)
- Intraperitoneal (IP) (Correct answer)
- Intravenous (IV)
- Intramuscular (IM)
Correct answer: Intraperitoneal (IP)
Intraperitoneal injection delivers substances into the peritoneal cavity and is commonly used in rodents for drug administration.
Question 4: What environmental enrichment item is considered essential for rabbits housed in laboratory settings?
- Running wheel
- Nesting material or hiding box (Correct answer)
- Saline drip line
- UV light lamp
Correct answer: Nesting material or hiding box
Rabbits benefit greatly from hiding boxes or nesting material that allow them to express natural sheltering behaviors.
Question 5: How often should automatic watering systems in rodent facilities be checked for proper function?
- Once per month
- Only when animals appear dehydrated
- Daily (Correct answer)
- Weekly
Correct answer: Daily
Automatic watering systems must be checked daily to ensure valves are functioning and water is available to all animals.
Question 6: A technician notices a rat's incisors are overgrown and the animal is losing weight. What is the likely cause?
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Malocclusion preventing normal eating (Correct answer)
- Obesity-related jaw disorder
- Infectious stomatitis
Correct answer: Malocclusion preventing normal eating
Malocclusion causes incisor overgrowth that prevents proper prehension of food, leading to weight loss in rats.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the HEPA filter in an individually ventilated cage (IVC) rack?
- To regulate cage temperature
- To filter exhaust air and protect the facility from cage-level pathogens (Correct answer)
- To humidify incoming air
- To deliver medicated air to animals
Correct answer: To filter exhaust air and protect the facility from cage-level pathogens
HEPA filters on IVC exhaust prevent cage-level pathogens and allergens from entering the room environment.
ALAT Animal Husbandry and Care 2
What is the recommended relative humidity range for most laboratory rodent housing facilities?