Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
Lecture 1 - Laboratory animals, Housing and Care
(Miriam van der Meer)
Definition animal experiment: Any use, invasive or non-invasive, of an animal for
experimental or other scientific purposes or educational purposes, which may cause
discomfort equivalent to, or higher than, the introduction of a needle.
NL 4 categories of lab animals:
1. Wild type animals (WT) (85%)
2. Genetically modified animals (GGO) (16%)
a. Genetic material is adjusted for specific research (e.g. knockout of genes) →
especially in mice, rats and zebrafish
3. Animals who live in the wild and are studies in their own environment (2%)
a. behavioral study
4. Animals who live in the wild, but are studies in the laboratory (1%)
→ Laboratory animals are vertebrates. Most of them are specially bred at commercial
breeding companies (with a license)
→ Most animal experiments are done with mice and rats (>70%)
Animal species used:
Mice (46,2%), Rats (23,5%), Birds (11,6%), Fish (5,5%), Cattle (cow) (5,4%), Rabbit (1,8%),
Dog/Cat (0,4%), Primates (monkeys) (< 0,1%)
→ Sometimes they use monkeys (COVID research to develop sera, vaccins, medicines and
scientific research)
Forbidden: Research with man monkeys like chimpanzee (since 2003)
Number of animal experiments: between 1978 and 2010 a decline of 63%
❖ 2020 approximately 448.000 animals (each animal is counted)
Why are animals experiments being done:
➢ Fundamental scientific research: acquire fundamental knowledge of men
and animals and about the origin of diseases (51,4%)
➢ Applied scientific research: development of medicines for the protection of
the health of men and animal (44,8%)
■ 21% of animal experiments for applied scientific research is legally required to
guarantee the safety of medicines and food
➢ Education: gain practical experience in treating men and animals (3,8%)
Killing of lab animals:
→ Most lab animals are being killed during or after an experiment (for the use of organs and
in vitro research)
Surplus animals (10%) = lab animals that stay alive → can be re-used
Animals killed w/o previous handling (for organs and tissues) = 9,4% (mice, rats and fish)
Since 2014: adoption of lab animals is possible
Animal experiments at the UvA (SILS-CNS):
Small animal facility. Separate housing for mice, rats and ferrets (because they smell each
other → stress, therefore you also need to change your lab coat when you change to
another room).
→ Licence holder or head animal facility (art 2), Animal welfare officer (art 14), animal
caretaker (art 12), researchers (art 9), students
❖ Internal supervision: inspections by own employees and IvD
,Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
❖ External supervision: inspectorate NVWA = unexpected
Animal experiments on behalf of animals:
❖ Almost all human diseases also occur in animals.
❖ Some medicines for humans → can also be used for animals
❖ Medicins specially developed for animals
➢ 65% of the experiments with dogs and 90% of the experiments with cats
Animal experiments & cosmetics (soap, make up, deo etc);
Since 2013: European Cosmetics Guideline: prohibition to put (ingrediënts of) cosmetics
tested on animals into the market
European regulation for the care and use of laboratory animals:
❖ Convention ETS 123: protection of animals (appendix A)
❖ Directive 2010/63/EU: protection of animals (Annex I-VII)
➢ effective since 2014 in NL
Aim: Enhancement of: animal welfare, standardization/harmonization and quality of research
Housing of laboratory animals - Wed op de dierproeven (Wod):
❖ Hij die dierproeven verricht, is verplicht ervoor zorg te dragen dat de dieren
behoorlijk worden verzorgd en behandeld met inachtneming van bij of krachtens
algemene maatregel van bestuur te dien aanzien te stellen regelen.
➢ Deskundigheid van degenen die de dieren verzorgen
➢ Afmetingen en de constructie van de onderkomens waarin de dieren
worden gehuisvest
➢ Schoonhouden en het verwarmen der onderkomens
➢ Voeding der dieren
❖ E.g. Registration of temperature and humidity, solid floor with bedding material, group
housing (single housing should only occur when justified on veterinary or
experimental grounds) and cage enrichment.
The environment and its control:
❖ Temperature (daily): should be measured, logged and regulated
➢ rodents between 20 - 24 ℃
➢ special attention: new-born, hairless, ill and operated animals
❖ Humidity (daily): should be controlled
➢ mostly between 45-65%
❖ Ventilation: provide sufficient fresh air
➢ 15-20 air changes / hour
➢ Avoid draught and noise disturbance
➢ Avoid: spread of odors, noxious gasses, dust and infectious agents
❖ Lighting: should satisfy biological requirements & working environment
➢ avoid bright light
➢ regular photoperiods should be provided: 12h light and 12h dark cycle (no
interruptions)
➢ Max 350 lux (albino max 60 lux)
➢ shaded tops on racks to reduce risk of retinal degeneration
■ each animal must receive the same amount of light, otherwise
experiments can be influenced
❖ Noise: high noise → stress
➢ minimize ultrasounds
➢ background noise is good: radio on
,Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
Housing
To prevent infection, animals are housed behind a barrier → specific procedures for
introducing animals and materials + for people (lab coat, facemask, gloves)
Types of housing:
❖ Conventional housing =
standard / ordinary housing
❖ Filter Top = on top there is a
shelter with a filter on it
➢ to protect humans for
infectious agents
➢ you have to work in a flow
cabinet
❖ IVC = individually ventilated cages
➢ Supplies fresh air. Each
cage has its own
ventilation
❖ Isolator = Cache in isolator. To
work with infectious diseases
(such as COVID)
Transport of animals:
Quarantine, acclimatization and isolation: before you start your experiment you have to wait
7 days to let the animals rest so that they are used to the new environment
Social environment:
→ Single or in a group?
→ Group by species, strain, sex or age
→ Keep attention to group size and cage density
→ Male mice often fight
Enrichment:
All animals should be allowed sufficient space of adequate
complexity to express a wide range of normal behaviors.
Environmental enrichment should be provided and should be
appropriate to the species-specific and individual needs of the
animals.
➢ Nesting material, Nest Box, climbing grid, PVC tube.
➢ Hiding place, bedding
➢ Guinea Pigs: Manipulable materials such as hay for chewing
and concealment
➢ Increase environmental complexity: tubes, boxes, climbing
racks
Feeding: The form, content and presentation of the diet should meet the nutritional and
behavioral needs of the animal
Watering: Uncontaminated drinking water should always be available. Water delivery
systems should be designed to provide adequate quantities of water of suitable quality.
Cleaning:
❖ Adequate regimes for cleaning, washing, decontamination and sterilization of cages
and accessories, bottles and other equipment should be established and carried out
❖ Cleaning may disturb odor marks, which may cause some degree of social disruption
(take care with breeding)
, Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
➢ It may be advisable to maintain some odor cues left by the animals during
cleaning procedures
Bedding:
❖ Should allow species specific behaviors + absorb urine and feces and facilitate
cleaning
❖ Nesting material
Handling:
Accustoming animals to competent and confident handling during routine husbandry and
procedures, reduces stress both to animals and personnel.
Species specific provisions for mice:
Species specific provisions for rats:
Species specific provisions for rabbits:
❖ Temperature: 15-21 ℃
❖ Humidity: > 45%
❖ Housing:
➢ Young and female rabbits should be housed in harmonious groups
➢ Adult entire males may perform territorial behavior and should not be housed
with other entire males
➢ Wherever possible rabbits should be kept in pens
A happy animal makes good science.
Lecture 1 - Laboratory animals, Housing and Care
(Miriam van der Meer)
Definition animal experiment: Any use, invasive or non-invasive, of an animal for
experimental or other scientific purposes or educational purposes, which may cause
discomfort equivalent to, or higher than, the introduction of a needle.
NL 4 categories of lab animals:
1. Wild type animals (WT) (85%)
2. Genetically modified animals (GGO) (16%)
a. Genetic material is adjusted for specific research (e.g. knockout of genes) →
especially in mice, rats and zebrafish
3. Animals who live in the wild and are studies in their own environment (2%)
a. behavioral study
4. Animals who live in the wild, but are studies in the laboratory (1%)
→ Laboratory animals are vertebrates. Most of them are specially bred at commercial
breeding companies (with a license)
→ Most animal experiments are done with mice and rats (>70%)
Animal species used:
Mice (46,2%), Rats (23,5%), Birds (11,6%), Fish (5,5%), Cattle (cow) (5,4%), Rabbit (1,8%),
Dog/Cat (0,4%), Primates (monkeys) (< 0,1%)
→ Sometimes they use monkeys (COVID research to develop sera, vaccins, medicines and
scientific research)
Forbidden: Research with man monkeys like chimpanzee (since 2003)
Number of animal experiments: between 1978 and 2010 a decline of 63%
❖ 2020 approximately 448.000 animals (each animal is counted)
Why are animals experiments being done:
➢ Fundamental scientific research: acquire fundamental knowledge of men
and animals and about the origin of diseases (51,4%)
➢ Applied scientific research: development of medicines for the protection of
the health of men and animal (44,8%)
■ 21% of animal experiments for applied scientific research is legally required to
guarantee the safety of medicines and food
➢ Education: gain practical experience in treating men and animals (3,8%)
Killing of lab animals:
→ Most lab animals are being killed during or after an experiment (for the use of organs and
in vitro research)
Surplus animals (10%) = lab animals that stay alive → can be re-used
Animals killed w/o previous handling (for organs and tissues) = 9,4% (mice, rats and fish)
Since 2014: adoption of lab animals is possible
Animal experiments at the UvA (SILS-CNS):
Small animal facility. Separate housing for mice, rats and ferrets (because they smell each
other → stress, therefore you also need to change your lab coat when you change to
another room).
→ Licence holder or head animal facility (art 2), Animal welfare officer (art 14), animal
caretaker (art 12), researchers (art 9), students
❖ Internal supervision: inspections by own employees and IvD
,Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
❖ External supervision: inspectorate NVWA = unexpected
Animal experiments on behalf of animals:
❖ Almost all human diseases also occur in animals.
❖ Some medicines for humans → can also be used for animals
❖ Medicins specially developed for animals
➢ 65% of the experiments with dogs and 90% of the experiments with cats
Animal experiments & cosmetics (soap, make up, deo etc);
Since 2013: European Cosmetics Guideline: prohibition to put (ingrediënts of) cosmetics
tested on animals into the market
European regulation for the care and use of laboratory animals:
❖ Convention ETS 123: protection of animals (appendix A)
❖ Directive 2010/63/EU: protection of animals (Annex I-VII)
➢ effective since 2014 in NL
Aim: Enhancement of: animal welfare, standardization/harmonization and quality of research
Housing of laboratory animals - Wed op de dierproeven (Wod):
❖ Hij die dierproeven verricht, is verplicht ervoor zorg te dragen dat de dieren
behoorlijk worden verzorgd en behandeld met inachtneming van bij of krachtens
algemene maatregel van bestuur te dien aanzien te stellen regelen.
➢ Deskundigheid van degenen die de dieren verzorgen
➢ Afmetingen en de constructie van de onderkomens waarin de dieren
worden gehuisvest
➢ Schoonhouden en het verwarmen der onderkomens
➢ Voeding der dieren
❖ E.g. Registration of temperature and humidity, solid floor with bedding material, group
housing (single housing should only occur when justified on veterinary or
experimental grounds) and cage enrichment.
The environment and its control:
❖ Temperature (daily): should be measured, logged and regulated
➢ rodents between 20 - 24 ℃
➢ special attention: new-born, hairless, ill and operated animals
❖ Humidity (daily): should be controlled
➢ mostly between 45-65%
❖ Ventilation: provide sufficient fresh air
➢ 15-20 air changes / hour
➢ Avoid draught and noise disturbance
➢ Avoid: spread of odors, noxious gasses, dust and infectious agents
❖ Lighting: should satisfy biological requirements & working environment
➢ avoid bright light
➢ regular photoperiods should be provided: 12h light and 12h dark cycle (no
interruptions)
➢ Max 350 lux (albino max 60 lux)
➢ shaded tops on racks to reduce risk of retinal degeneration
■ each animal must receive the same amount of light, otherwise
experiments can be influenced
❖ Noise: high noise → stress
➢ minimize ultrasounds
➢ background noise is good: radio on
,Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
Housing
To prevent infection, animals are housed behind a barrier → specific procedures for
introducing animals and materials + for people (lab coat, facemask, gloves)
Types of housing:
❖ Conventional housing =
standard / ordinary housing
❖ Filter Top = on top there is a
shelter with a filter on it
➢ to protect humans for
infectious agents
➢ you have to work in a flow
cabinet
❖ IVC = individually ventilated cages
➢ Supplies fresh air. Each
cage has its own
ventilation
❖ Isolator = Cache in isolator. To
work with infectious diseases
(such as COVID)
Transport of animals:
Quarantine, acclimatization and isolation: before you start your experiment you have to wait
7 days to let the animals rest so that they are used to the new environment
Social environment:
→ Single or in a group?
→ Group by species, strain, sex or age
→ Keep attention to group size and cage density
→ Male mice often fight
Enrichment:
All animals should be allowed sufficient space of adequate
complexity to express a wide range of normal behaviors.
Environmental enrichment should be provided and should be
appropriate to the species-specific and individual needs of the
animals.
➢ Nesting material, Nest Box, climbing grid, PVC tube.
➢ Hiding place, bedding
➢ Guinea Pigs: Manipulable materials such as hay for chewing
and concealment
➢ Increase environmental complexity: tubes, boxes, climbing
racks
Feeding: The form, content and presentation of the diet should meet the nutritional and
behavioral needs of the animal
Watering: Uncontaminated drinking water should always be available. Water delivery
systems should be designed to provide adequate quantities of water of suitable quality.
Cleaning:
❖ Adequate regimes for cleaning, washing, decontamination and sterilization of cages
and accessories, bottles and other equipment should be established and carried out
❖ Cleaning may disturb odor marks, which may cause some degree of social disruption
(take care with breeding)
, Summary Laboratory Animal Course 2022 - Yara Witte
➢ It may be advisable to maintain some odor cues left by the animals during
cleaning procedures
Bedding:
❖ Should allow species specific behaviors + absorb urine and feces and facilitate
cleaning
❖ Nesting material
Handling:
Accustoming animals to competent and confident handling during routine husbandry and
procedures, reduces stress both to animals and personnel.
Species specific provisions for mice:
Species specific provisions for rats:
Species specific provisions for rabbits:
❖ Temperature: 15-21 ℃
❖ Humidity: > 45%
❖ Housing:
➢ Young and female rabbits should be housed in harmonious groups
➢ Adult entire males may perform territorial behavior and should not be housed
with other entire males
➢ Wherever possible rabbits should be kept in pens
A happy animal makes good science.
