Tissue reaction to an implantable identification device in mice.
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Long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity studies require positive identification of animals. Due to the unreliability of traditional methods, it was necessary to investigate more dependable identification methods that can be read directly or by electronic means. A two-year study to determine the stability of and tissue reaction to a microchip glass-sealed device implanted in subcutaneous tissue of mice was conducted. Seventy B6C3F1 mice of each sex were anesthetized and implanted with the microchip. The devices were read by an electronic detector and palpated at periodic intervals. Ten mice of each sex were necropsied at 3 months and at 15 months with the remaining animals necropsied at 24 months. Of the 140 devices implanted, 3 were lost and 4 failed during the 24-month study. Devices were palpable and appeared to be fixed at one location with no obvious swelling due to inflammation or palpable masses around the implants for 24 months. At the 3, 15, and 24 month necropsies, implants were encapsulated by connective tissue. Light microscopic evaluation indicated that the capsule around the implants was thin and composed of fibrocytes and mature collagen fibers, with minimal to mild inflammation and occasional granulomatous reaction. Neoplastic changes were not observed in the tissue around the glass-sealed devices with polypropylene cap for up to 24 months. (+info)
National Beef Quality Audit-2011: Harvest-floor assessments of targeted characteristics that affect quality and value of cattle, carcasses, and byproducts.
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A comparison of spatial and movement patterns between sympatric predators: bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus).
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The benefits of animal identification for food safety.
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The Center for Veterinary Medicine supports the effort to have a practical, workable form of mandatory animal identification. An animal identification system will make tracing of the source of animals with drug or chemical residues quicker and more effective. One of the best means of addressing and solving the problem of residues is through mandatory livestock identification. A successful traceback benefits both the producer and the industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed a mandatory nationwide system to require that all swine in interstate commerce be identified. Under the proposal several means of identification are listed and could be used. Additional methods or devices could be requested in writing to USDA. Persons required to keep records under the system would maintain the documents at their place of business for 2 yr. Records would be available to authorized USDA employees during ordinary business hours. FDA has had difficulty tracing tissue residue violations, particularly those involving sulfamethazine residues in swine. Investigations involving culled dairy cows and veal calves also have been closed due to lack of producer identification. The ability for FDA to determine the source of residues is vitally important in a coordinated government program to eliminate illegal tissue residues. (+info)
Direct embryo tagging and identification system by attachment of biofunctionalized polysilicon barcodes to the zona pellucida of mouse embryos.
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Animal control measures and their relationship to the reported incidence of dog bites in urban Canadian municipalities.
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Various measures, including ticketing, licensing, and breed-specific legislation, are used by municipalities to control dog bites, but their effectiveness is largely unknown. Thirty-six urban Canadian municipalities provided information about their animal control practices, resourcing, and (for 22 municipalities) rate of reported dog bites. Municipalities differed widely in rates of licensing (4% to 75%) and ticketing (0.1 to 83 per 10,000 people), even where staffing and budgets were similar. Reported frequency of dog bites ranged from 0 to 9.0 (median 1.9) per 10,000 people. Rates were generally higher in municipalities with higher ticketing, licensing, staffing, and budget levels. However, in municipalities with very active ticketing the reported bite rate was much lower than predicted by a linear regression on ticketing rate (quadratic regression, R(2) = 0.52), likely reflecting a reduction in actual bites with very active enforcement. Municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation did not differ in reported bite rate. Ticketing appeared most effective in reducing dog bites, although it may also lead to increased reporting. (+info)