ALAT Animal Husbandry and Care 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following signs is most consistent with pain in a mouse?
- Increased grooming of cage-mates
- Orbital tightening and nose bulging (grimace scale) (Correct answer)
- Hyperactive running in the cage
- Bright red ear pinnae
Correct answer: Orbital tightening and nose bulging (grimace scale)
The Mouse Grimace Scale uses facial action units such as orbital tightening and nose/cheek bulging to assess pain.
Question 2: What is the correct term for the process of gradually acclimatizing animals to a new facility environment before use in studies?
- Quarantine
- Acclimation (Correct answer)
- Conditioning
- Habituation
Correct answer: Acclimation
Acclimation is the period during which animals adjust to the new environment, reducing stress-related variables in research.
Question 3: Guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. What disease results from dietary deficiency of this vitamin?
- Rickets
- Scurvy (Correct answer)
- Pellagra
- Beriberi
Correct answer: Scurvy
Guinea pigs lack L-gulonolactone oxidase and develop scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) without dietary supplementation.
Question 4: A technician finds a rabbit in lateral recumbency with rapid breathing and a bluish tinge to the mucous membranes. This is most suggestive of:
- Normal sleep posture
- Cyanosis indicating respiratory distress (Correct answer)
- Heat stroke only if the room is above 80°F
- Barbering-induced stress response
Correct answer: Cyanosis indicating respiratory distress
Cyanosis (blue mucous membranes) combined with rapid breathing indicates severe respiratory distress requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Question 5: Which bedding material is generally contraindicated for use with hamsters due to the risk of impaction?
- Corn cob bedding
- Cedar shavings
- Cotton fiber/fluffy bedding (Correct answer)
- Recycled paper pellets
Correct answer: Cotton fiber/fluffy bedding
Cotton fiber (fluffy) bedding can be ingested or packed into cheek pouches, causing impaction or intestinal obstruction in hamsters.
Question 6: What does the acronym SPF stand for in the context of laboratory animal health status?
- Specific Pathogen Free (Correct answer)
- Sterile Pathogen Filtered
- Standard Protocol Facility
- Single Pass Filtered
Correct answer: Specific Pathogen Free
SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) animals are defined as free from a defined list of pathogens that could interfere with research.
Question 7: When performing a cage change on a mouse colony, the technician should handle mice using:
- Bare hands for maximum dexterity
- Tail-only grasping for all procedures
- A tunnel or cupped-hand technique to minimize stress (Correct answer)
- Chemical sedation before every cage change
Correct answer: A tunnel or cupped-hand technique to minimize stress
Tunnel or cupped-hand handling has been shown to significantly reduce mouse anxiety compared to tail-only handling.
ALAT Animal Husbandry and Care 3
Which of the following signs is most consistent with pain in a mouse?