Rodents from non-commercial sources pose the highest single risk of introducing infectious agents into The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) animal colonies. These rodents, therefore, are subjected to quarantine and intensive monitoring prior to release into established colonies. Non-commercial sources are defined as institutions that do not have closed colonies with intensive health monitoring programs. These include academic and other research institutions, small commercial breeding companies and certain colonies maintained by approved vendors (e.g. contract breeding).

Investigators requesting rodents from such sources should allow 2-3 months for evaluation of the animals and final release from quarantine. There is a charge per importation to cover the cost of the diagnostic evaluation and quarantine maintenance.

Shipping Instructions

In order to obtain rodents from non-commercial sources, a “Web Animal Order” must be submitted. This is the same method used when ordering animals from a recognized vendor. Under the Vendor field select Outside Institution. Under the Ordering Comments field, include the following: the name of the exporting PI, the institution’s animal facility’s contact name, phone number, fax number and email address. Also include on the Ordering Comments section if rodents will be used while in the Berg quarantine room. That request along with the health report need to be approved by the DLAR vet or staff. In addition, investigators must request that the donating institution provide recent health information on the colony of origin including: 1) A description of the rodent health monitoring program of the supplying institution; and 2) A copy of the past year's health report(s) for the colony from which the rodents are to be imported. The following test should be covered in all health reports received: SEND, PVM, MHV, TMEV, REO, MPUL, MPV, EDIM, LCMV, MAV, ECTRO, K, POLY, MTLV and MCMV. As well as bacteriology, parasitology, pathology and helicobacter reports. This health information can be faxed to DLAR at 212-263-8235. Animals should not be shipped until DLAR makes the final arrangements with the supplying institution to order and receive the rodents. Rodents must be separated by sex when shipped. Shipping must be door-to-door. DLAR does not have the capability of retrieving animals from the airport.

Procurement of rodents from international sources may require involvement of a fee-for-service import broker to expedite clearing through customs, to coordinate the necessary USDA paperwork, and deliver the mice to the facility. Costs for these services are fully recovered. Additional requirements must be met when importing animals harboring agricultural animal pathogens or biological agents (>BSL 2) from other countries. Specifically, an import permit must be submitted to and be approved by the USDA or the CDC. This process may take 4 to 6 weeks. Please contact a DLAR veterinarian for additional information.

DLAR recommends that rodents not be shipped if the ambient temperature in New York City, the destination, or transit locations is expected to exceed 85ºF or is less than 45ºF. The use of transportation companies that employ temperature-controlled vehicles to deliver animals to and from the airport is encouraged. The following companies are recommended: Marken Time Critical Express (800-932-6755) and World Courier (800-221-6600). Rodents should be shipped no later than Wednesday. The shipments must reach Veterinary Services Office by 2 PM. Shipments are not accepted on the weekend.

No more than 24 adult mice should be placed within a single crate. Adult males, especially those that have not been housed together prior to shipment, may fight during transit. They should be crated at a lower density or individually. Litters less than 3 weeks of age should not be shipped unless accompanied by their dam. Shipments of young litters may result in loss of all or part of the litter. Pregnant mice should not be shipped later than the 14th day of pregnancy to avoid loss of the litter.

Quarantine Procedures

After review of the health information, rodents are placed into quarantine according to the health profile. Access to this area is limited to DLAR staff. One to four days after arrival, a subset of the shipment will be evaluated for bacterial, parasitic, and viral contamination. Contact sentinel animals (female mice purchased from a commercial vendor) are placed directly with the mice from the shipment for a 2-week period. Approximately three weeks after the first samples are collected, a subset of the shipment animals will be sampled again. Approximately four weeks later, the sentinels are euthanized and tested comprehensively. Throughout the quarantine period, mice are treated with fenbendazole-impregnated feed for a five-week period to eliminate the possibility of pinworm. If all sentinels test negative for all agents in the test panel, the imported animals are released into established colonies. The total time course from receipt of the rodents by DLAR to release into the animal colony is typically 9-11 weeks. The investigator receives verification of the health status of the animals in writing upon completion of the quarantine period

If all animals in the requested importation group are immunodeficient, investigators should determine whether additional immunocompetent (wild type) animals could be provided from the colony of origin (2-4 animals). These animals serve as sentinels for the shipment.

If the health profile of the desired rodents indicates that they may harbor an infectious agent (e.g., ~murine viruses) or if the group is found to be contaminated during quarantine evaluation, the investigator will need to discuss potential options with the DLAR veterinarian. Rederivation options will be based on the pathogen and genotype of the imported animals and may include regular quarantine, treatment, burnout or embryo transfer.

Rodents regardless of health status may be imported for acute use in quarantine. These animals will not be evaluated in quarantine. They may be used in the quarantine facility for tissue collection or short-term experiments. Access to these animals is restricted. All acute use procedures must be discussed with the DLAR veterinarian prior to the animals' arrival.

Questions regarding procurement of rodents may be directed to the Veterinary Technician Supervisor, 212-263-2883 or williv01@med.nyu.edu.

Version 3-2005