Programs for invasive research in North American zoos and aquariums.
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Zoo-based research in North America is an emerging field, which has progressed from an ad hoc approach in a small number of zoos to a coordinated, integrated network of scientists with recognized research programs in approximately one half of the accredited institutions in North America. The disciplines most active in these programs--veterinary medicine and pathology, nutrition, reproductive biology, contraception, and behavior--are now becoming coordinated in zoos through Scientific Advisory Groups. Zoos with research programs generally establish either an institutional animal care and use committee or another committee to evaluate research proposals. In addition to scientific merit and experimental design, zoos evaluate proposals based on factors such as priority by conservation program/identified need; direct effect on species conservation, species type, and appropriateness; availability and location of animals; operational requirements/logistics; communication between institutions; and available funding. Euthanasia is considered only in rare circumstances. Zoo-based research has evolved into an integral component in animal management and conservation programs by providing practical information that is used to improve animal care, well-being, health, and reproduction. However, the degree to which zoos participate in invasive research varies considerably among institutions, due not only to resource limitations but also to how the term "invasive" is defined and accepted at each institution. A more standardized approach among zoological institutions for examining and approving research projects that are supported by zoo-based conservation programs would greatly facilitate the wildlife research efforts of North American zoos. (+info)
50 years of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR): 1953-2003.
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The history of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) begins, as does all of laboratory animal science, with the ancient philosophers, anatomists, and physiologists whose work presaged the use of animals in biomedical research and the institutions that arose due to this use. Modern laboratory animal science and medicine began in the late 1940s and early 1950s as five Chicago-area institutions hired veterinarians to manage their animal facilities. Each of these men became instrumental in the founding of the organizations that collectively make up the laboratory animal science and medicine organizations. Nathan Brewer, one of the "Chicago five," was particularly influential in the founding of ILAR. His boss at the University of Chicago, Dr. Paul Weiss, a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), asked him to help establish a committee with the stated purpose of preparing recommendations to the NAS to develop an office to obtain information on sources of supply for research animals. This office became ILAR, and Brewer was chairman of its first report on the diseases of laboratory animals. He was also a founding diplomat and first president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. This history recognizes the thoughtful and energetic contributions of scientists and veterinarians to ILAR. It provides a 50-year overview of the programs and reports of ILAR and highlights examples where these reports have been adopted by scientists and federal agencies and incorporated into national laws and policies governing the use of animals in research both in the United States and in other countries. (+info)
THE NON-MEDICAL USE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND THE RISK OF CAUSING MICROBIAL DRUG-RESISTANCE.
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One of the hazards involved in the use of antibiotics in animal feeds is that it may lead to the development of bacterial drug-resistance. An analysis of the phenomenon shows that this possibility largely depends on the size of the bacterial populations involved and on the possibility of selective multiplication of the resistant mutants that may be present. Additional factors involved in the development of resistance are the type of drug applied and the time during which the bacteria are in contact with it.Animal experiments and general practical experience show that resistance, especially in E. coli, Salm. typhimurium and Staph. aureus, may considerably increase as higher doses are added to the feed. Therefore, the lowest effective level for growth promotion (5-20 p.p.m. of penicillin or tetracycline) is to be preferred over higher levels.AS TO THE PRACTICE OF FOOD PRESERVATION BY MEANS OF ANTIBIOTICS, A DANGEROUS SITUATION MAY ARISE IF TWO FACTORS COMBINE: emergence of bacterial resistance in Salmonella and perhaps other pathogenic bacteria in the animal as a result of the addition of a certain antibiotic to feeds, and subsequent use of the same substance for preservation of the meat. (+info)
EPIZOOTIOLOGY ON MINK ENTERITIS. II. MUSCA DOMESTICA L AS A POSSIBLE VECTOR OF VIRUS.
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The significance of the house fly M. domestica L as a vector of ME was studied. MEV was transmitted from infected to susceptible mink by flies having unlimited contact with both. Disease was also induced by feeding infected flies to susceptible mink. (+info)
SCREENING TEST OF ANIMAL SERA FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LEPTOSPIRES.
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The nutritive value of 8 kinds of animal's sera for the growth of Leptospires was studied by a screening method and compared with that of rabbit serum. The sera of dairy cattle and goats were higher than rabbit serum in average growth number, and thus gave great value for the cultivation of Leptospires. In eight kinds of animals other than dairy cattle, the growth promoting action of the pooled sera for Leptospires were lower than that of the individual sera of the same kind of animals. The serum which is to be added to the medium for the cultivation of Leptospires should be tested by a screening test for the absence of growth inhibitory action against Leptospires, no matter from what kind of animal the serum originated. (+info)
VIRAL PLASMACYTOSIS (ALEUTIAN DISEASE) IN MINK. V. THE OCCURRENCE OF HYALIN GLOMERULAR LESIONS AND FIBRINOID ARTERITIS IN EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS.
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One hundred mink with experimental viral plasmacytosis were examined for fibrinoid vascular lesions. Abnormal hyalin deposits were found in glomeruli in all cases of advanced disease. Fibrinoid arteritis occurred only in Aleutian type mink in this study. Seven of 30 experimentally infected Aleutian mink were found to have fibrinoid arteritis, together with other lesions of advanced plasmacytosis. The type of inoculum seemed of no consequence in development of vascular lesions. Equally severe lesions developed after inoculation with cell-free filtrates as were found in mink inoculated with crude tissue suspensions. These observations strengthen the concept of a virus as the primary etiologic agent and confirm the view that Aleutian disease is a convenient experimental model for studies on the collagen diseases. (+info)
SEROLOGIC STUDIES OF AFRICAN HORSE-SICKNESS VIRUS WITH EMPHASIS ON NEUTRALIZATION TEST IN TISSUE CULTURE.
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In place of mice, monkey kidney stable (MS) cell cultures were used successfully in serologic studies of African horse-sickness virus.The maintenance medium containing 2% serum was chosen as the virus diluent. Maximum neutralization occurred after 1-hour incubation at 37 C., and maintained the same titer during an additional 4-hour incubation period. No significant difference was observed between neutralization titers titrated using the same antiserum mixed with two different passage levels of virus. Rabbit and guinea pig antiserums prepared using virus grown in MS cell cultures had antibody titer as high as those prepared in the same manner using mouse brain suspension. African horse-sickness virus strains isolated in Asia were serologically identified using a standard neutralization technique in tissue culture. All the strains were closely related to each other and all had antigenic similarity to Type 6 virus (strain 114). (+info)
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF TYLOSIN AS A TREATMENT OF VIBRIONIC DYSENTERY IN SWINE.
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A 5 year history of swine dysentery and treatment has been described.In 1964, a severe outbreak diagnosed as Vibrionic dysentery in 166 litters farrowed from January - March caused a death loss of 30.3 per cent of the total number weaned. This outbreak was not checked with an organic arsenic, sodium arsanilate, which had previously been relatively effective.A subsequent farrow of 133 litters (June - August, 1964) was infected and again sodium arsanilate was ineffective. Microscopic examination of smears of representative fecal samples revealed the presence of a heavy concentration of vibrio-like organisms. Two test-barns, housing 140 and 172 pigs respectively, were treated with tylosin-tartrate, using one side of each barn as a control, while the other side was being treated. Subsequently, the control sides were treated. Both levels of tylosin used, 1 gm and 2 gm per U.S. gallon of water, resulted in the disappearance of fluid feces within 48 hours of treatment. Soft, granular feces were still present 6-9 days after the start of treatment at the 1 gm level, while in case of the 2 gm level of tylosin, all feces were normal on the third day after medication started. Microscopic examination of feces collected on the third day of treatment still revealed the presence of some vibrio-like organisms. However, these organisms could not be detected in examination of feces collected between 10 to 25 days after treatment. In this test there was no recurrence of dysentery. (+info)