ALAT Animal Husbandry and Environment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of an 'acclimation period' for newly received laboratory animals?
- To allow animals to recover from transport stress before use in studies (Correct answer)
- To quarantine animals for export documentation
- To train animals to accept handling by technicians
- To update the animal's microchip records
Correct answer: To allow animals to recover from transport stress before use in studies
Acclimation allows animals to physiologically stabilize after the stress of shipping before being used in experiments, reducing confounding variables.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'dirty corridor / clean corridor' facility design?
- To separate male and female animals
- To prevent cross-contamination by directing traffic flow from clean to dirty areas (Correct answer)
- To provide separate ventilation zones for different species
- To comply with fire safety regulations
Correct answer: To prevent cross-contamination by directing traffic flow from clean to dirty areas
The corridor separation system prevents contamination by ensuring personnel move from clean supply areas to dirty waste areas without backtracking.
Question 3: A cage card for a mouse shows the strain, study number, and PI name but is missing the sex indicator. Why is this information critical?
- Sex affects the animal's microchip signal
- Mixing sexes can lead to unintended breeding and compromise study validity (Correct answer)
- Male and female animals require different cage sizes by law
- Sex determines the required light cycle
Correct answer: Mixing sexes can lead to unintended breeding and compromise study validity
Unintended breeding from mixed-sex housing can invalidate studies, cause overcrowding, and harm neonates, making accurate sex identification on cage cards essential.
Question 4: What is the recommended maximum number of adult mice per standard microisolator cage (approximately 75 in²) to meet space requirements under the Guide?
- 3
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 10
- 15
Correct answer: 5
The Guide recommends approximately 15 in² per adult mouse, so a 75 in² cage can appropriately house up to 5 adult mice.
Question 5: Which method is used to verify that an autoclave has achieved adequate sterilization conditions for cage bedding?
- Color change of chemical indicator tape only
- Biological indicator using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores (Correct answer)
- Visual inspection of the bedding after processing
- pH testing of the bedding moisture
Correct answer: Biological indicator using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores
Biological indicators using heat-resistant bacterial spores are the gold standard for confirming that autoclaves have achieved sterilization conditions.
Question 6: What is the correct response when a technician discovers a rabbit with a body condition score of 1 out of 5 (severely emaciated)?
- Increase food allotment and recheck in 2 weeks
- Notify the attending veterinarian immediately (Correct answer)
- Transfer the animal to a group cage for competition feeding
- Document the finding and continue normal husbandry
Correct answer: Notify the attending veterinarian immediately
A BCS of 1 indicates a critically ill or malnourished animal requiring immediate veterinary assessment and intervention.
Question 7: Which of the following is a key advantage of individually ventilated cages (IVCs) over standard static microisolator cages?
- Lower initial equipment cost
- Reduced frequency of required cage changes due to improved air exchange within the cage (Correct answer)
- Elimination of the need for HEPA-filtered air in the room
- Easier observation of animals without opening the cage
Correct answer: Reduced frequency of required cage changes due to improved air exchange within the cage
IVCs provide filtered, high-volume air exchange directly inside each cage, which dilutes ammonia and allows extended cage-change intervals compared to static cages.
ALAT Animal Husbandry and Environment 5
What is the primary purpose of an 'acclimation period' for newly received laboratory animals?