Confidential For Internal Use Only

LIFE SCIENCE LOGISTICS FOR

LABORATORY ANIMALS
Transportation of Laboratory Animals
A Workshop of the Roundtable on
Science and Welfare in Laboratory
Animal Use
Lynn C. Anderson, DVM, DACLAM
VP, Global Animal Welfare and Comparative
Medicine
September 3, 2014
2
CONVENTIONAL
ASSOCIATED
SPF
AXENIC
Health Status
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Clinical Illness
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 4
Animals that are clinically
ill or have severe
physical disabilities are
unsuitable for shipment
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Clinical Illness
Animals with inherited abnormalities or birth
defects to which they have adapted, resulting
in no apparent functional debilitation that
affects wellbeing, may be shipped
Provided they have a health certificate
describing the condition
Veterinary medical assurance that the
defect will not endanger their health
and wellbeing during shipment

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 5
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Infectious Agents
Lab animals infected with species specific
agents that do not cause illness or only
cause it under special circumstances and
inconsistently can be shipped
May be unsuitable for research but does
not make them unsuitable for transport
Rely on container to prevent cross
contamination
Health is responsibility of shipper not
carrier

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 6
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Infectious Agents
Animals infected with agents of human or
agricultural importance cannot be shipped
without federal permits
Most carriers wont handle them
Considered Dangerous Goods
IATA Manual on shipping infectious agents
and another on dangerous goods

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 7
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Age Considerationsunweaned animals
With few exceptions are unsuitable for transport
depending upon age and species
Thermoregulation difficulties
Ability to eat solid food or access water
Lactating females may fail to care for pups
Shipping mother with young usually
unacceptable risk
Unless close to weaning may not be able to
thermoregulate, consume food and water,
have mobility and energy stores to adapt to
transport.
Varies with species
Alternative: Ship female during 1
st
two trimesters

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 8
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Pregnant Animals
Avoid shipping near-term pregnant animals
Time mated rodents may be an exception
but even so there are risks
Problems include:
Abortion especially during last trimester
Birth in transit
Shipment of time pregnant animals in 1
st
two
trimesters
Shipment prior to implantation can be related
to failure to implant in some species
Often better to ship a mid term pregnant
animal and have her deliver at the receiving
institution.

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 9
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Genetically Modified Animals

Non infectious disease conditions
Can be less tolerant of environmental
conditions
Can have specialized requirements (e.g.
drugs, special diets)
Anticipated duration of shipment
Pre and post shipment arrangements
Most cases: no overt disease and can be
shipped as normal animals
Alternatives: Frozen embryos or animals
carrying but not exhibiting the gene defect

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 10
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Immunocompromised Animals

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 11
Must be shipped in a
container capable of
excluding
microorganisms.
Other than their
genetic susceptibility
to infection and lack
of insulating hair
coat, requirements
during shipment are
the same as for other
animals
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Obese Animals
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 12
Dont dissipate
heat as well as
other animals
Number of
animals per
container may
need to be
reduced in
warm weather

Confidential For Internal Use Only
Shipping Multiple Animals in the Same
Container (Divided or Non-divided)
One species per container
Predator / prey
Increase escape behavior
Separation of species during transit cannot
be achieved (e.g. different shipments in
same compartment)
No separation by sight, sound or smell
possible
Potential contamination of outside of
container

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 13
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Grouping Prior to Shipping

May fight to establish social hierarchy
May have substantial injuries with larger
animals (e.g. NHPs)
Rodents strain dependent and is
decreased with increased packing
density
Novel transport environment blunts these
interactions
With larger animals may establish social
groups well in advance of shipping to
determine compatibility

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 14
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Surgically Modified Animals
Recovery time required before an animal can
be shipped varies with complexity of surgery
and animals response to surgery
Provide sufficient postoperative recovery
to withstand stress of shipment
Minor procedures may be only one or
two days
More extensive procedures = longer
recovery


Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 15
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Surgically Modified Animals
Animals with complications from surgery or
requiring daily therapy should not be shipped
Animals with devices surgically implanted
that have exteriorized components should be
transported in individual containers or
compartments

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 16
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Changes in body condition during transport

Shipping may affect general biological
measures of body condition (e.g., weight)
Light cycles and food consumption patterns
disturbed
Transient decrease in body weight (e.g., 10%
or more) in first 12 to 15 hours due to normal
voiding of feces and urine
May not be recoverable during shipping even
though adequate amounts of food and water
are present in container
More noticeable in larger animals (e.g.,
guinea pigs and rabbits)

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 17
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Evaluation of Animals During Shipment
Containers used to transport animals should
allow for observation
Ventilation openings
Viewing windowsSPF animals
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 18
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Additional Species Consideration
Nonhuman Primates (NHP)
NHP used for research are purpose bred and have
conventional or conditioned SPF health status
NHP are highly social and have complex
behaviors
Shipping containers must prevent injury or
escape
If animals do escape, only trained personnel
should attempt to capture them
Containers should be designed to provide food
and water without opening the animal
compartment
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 19
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Container Considerations--Feed
Unfiltered containers may allow food and water to
be replenished if shipment will last >24 hours
Filtered containers should contain sufficient food
and water for entire length of transit time, including
delays
Provide familiar food
Fruit and vegetables may provide additional
moisture
Dry feed is preferable for extended periods
Rodents will forage; larger animals are accustomed
to bowls
Many animals will not consume a significant
amount of food during the first 12-24 hours



Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 21
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Container Considerations--Water
Water bowls
Easily spill, may become contaminated
Can be replenished during transit
Water kits
Sealed bag, disinfected water
Valvesanimals must be trained to use
Agar, colloid-stabilized water
Advantageous for SPF rodents
May be supplemented with carbohydrates
or other nutrients


Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 22
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Environmental Conditions During Transit
Laboratory animals can adapt and
function over a range of ambient
temperatures
Factors that influence effective
ambient temperature include:
Insulation qualities of container
Density and body mass of animals
Size of ventilation openings
Coverings over ventilation
openings
Bedding material
Wind and sun

Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 23
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Reference












International Air Transport Association
Live Animals Regulations
Chapter 12: Life Science Logistics for Laboratory Animals
Edition 2013/2014
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 24
Confidential For Internal Use Only
Acknowledgement
Thanks to Dr. William J. White for many of the
photos and the framework for this presentation
Transportation of Laboratory Animals September 3, 2014 25