About Rodent Health Surveillance & Environmental Monitoring
The Rodent Health Surveillance (RHS) services are concerned with the routine periodic monitoring of rodents used in teaching and research. Most lab animal programs require at least quarterly surveys of sentinel rodents in order to ensure the good management of colonies and the validity of research data. Sick animal screening, as well as routine monitoring of custom & production breeding populations, are the primary focus of RHS at the Comparative Pathology Laboratory.
Specific RHS activities include necropsy evaluation of those sentinels, with ancillary microbiology, parasitology, serology and PCR screening for pathogens. As our skilled necropsy staff performs tissue examination and harvesting, suspicious lesion areas or areas of general interest are isolated. Histopathology evaluations of these tissues are accomplished through the preparation of hematoxylin & eosin (H & E) stained slides. Arrangements for other histological special stains can be easily made.
Please see our Services Listing for the various types of comprehensive screening panels available to complement the specific demands of your particular lab animal program.
Environmental microbiological monitoring of caging areas, transport vehicles and cleaned surfaces within the vivarium are accomplished through the use of sterile swabbing techniques and RODAC plates. We have full capability to check caging system water pH and screen for microorganisms. Periodic monitoring is necessary to evaluate cleaning techniques and the suitability of transport vehicles, cages and holding areas for housing animals.
A facility’s monitoring program can be individually tailored to suit specific needs. CPL can provide consultation as to the implementation of these programs. Please contact us!
