JAX® Mice health status communication policy

REVISION NUMBER 3, January 2007

The Jackson Laboratory Animal Health Staff: Peggy J. Danneman, VMD, MS, DACLAM (Senior Director, Laboratory Animal Health); James R. Fahey, PhD, DVM, DACVM (Chief of Diagnostic Services)

The Jackson Laboratory extensively monitors JAX® Mice for selected agents (see list) using statistically valid sampling procedures and recognized testing protocols for the detection of microbial contaminants and parasites. Results of diagnostic tests are summarized by room, updated quarterly and posted on our Web site as Animal Health Reports (see: http://jaxmice.jax.org/health/). All shipments of JAX® Mice are accompanied by the Health Report for each area providing mice.

The Jackson Laboratory uses accepted procedures for monitoring the health of JAX® Mice. These laboratory procedures include, but are not limited to, serology, culture, molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction, and anatomic pathology. Clinical observation and epidemiological analysis are used to investigate any contamination by organisms that we view as unacceptable (see below). Animal housing and support areas, equipment, and supplies are also rigorously monitored for contaminants.

In the event of confirmed introduction of an organism that we view as unacceptable, the actions taken will depend on several factors. Most importantly, decisions will be based on the agent detected with consideration of current knowledge of the biology of that agent. To facilitate these decisions we have devised a classification system consisting of Mouse Pathogens, Parasites, Opportunistic Organisms, and Other (Nonpathogenic) Organisms.

I. "A" List Agents (Mouse Pathogens & Parasites)
 

i. Actions Taken for Mouse Pathogens (see list)

Important Note: All mice maintained at The Jackson Laboratory are free of all agents categorized as Mouse Pathogens.

However, if a colony is confirmed to be infected with any of these organisms the following actions will be taken:

  • Containment procedures will be initiated to effectively isolate the area where the agent was found from all other Jackson Laboratory animal areas and support facilities.
  • Shipment of mice involved in the contamination (i.e., all mice housed in the animal room(s) where the contamination occurred) will be suspended immediately.
  • Within 2 business days of definitive diagnosis, a notice will be placed on our Web site, and notifications will be sent by first class mail or by fax to all institutions on our general JAX® Mice mailing list. Institutions which received mice from the affected area(s) during the previous 3 months will receive additional notifications to the Purchasing Contact on record by first class mail or by fax as soon as possible.
  • Any customer placing a new order for mice in the area affected by the contamination will be informed, at the time of order placement, of any shipping hold due to a contamination.
  • The pathogen will be eliminated from the affected area by one or more of the following methods: depopulation followed by repopulation from another animal area or recovery from cryopreservation; depopulation followed by rederivation; or test and cull.  The method used will depend on the microbial contaminant (infectivity and biological or environmental persistence) and on the degree of spread within the affected area.
  • Following elimination of the contamination, the housing area will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to redeployment for animal housing.

ii. Actions Taken for Parasites (see list)

Important Note: All mice maintained at The Jackson Laboratory are free of all monitored parasites.

Although most of these organisms have limited potential to cause disease or interfere with research, they are unacceptable in most facilities.  Therefore, if any of these organisms are found the following actions are taken:

  • All shipments of mice from the affected area(s) are immediately suspended.
  • We follow all procedures indicted above for mouse pathogens.

II. "B" List Agents (Opportunistic and Other (Nonpathogenic) Organisms)
 

i. Actions Taken for Opportunistic Organisms (see list)

These organisms are generally recognized as opportunistic pathogens that may complicate disease or interfere with research under certain circumstances, e.g., immunodeficient mice.

Important note:  Mice maintained in Production and “Other” colonies are free from Helicobacter spp., Pasteurella spp. and Pneumocystis carinii, although these organisms are present in some Research colonies. Other Opportunistic organisms are not tolerated in any Jackson Laboratory mouse colony. If they are found, immediate steps are taken to eradicate them using a test and cull approach.

If any of these organisms are detected the following procedures are followed:

  • Positive results in a Production area triggers a clinical investigation designed to eliminate all infected mice.
  • Positive results in a Research or “Other” area may or may not trigger a clinical investigation depending on the organism detected and the “accepted” health status of the colony.
  • Shipping from the area is not stopped.
  • The presence of the organism is reported on the Animal Health Report from the area.

ii. Actions Taken for Other (Nonpathogenic) Organisms (see list)

These organisms are generally viewed as normal flora of mice or as exogenous microorganisms with little or no potential to cause disease or interfere with research.  If any of these organisms are found the following actions are taken:

  • Positive results may or may not trigger a clinical investigation depending on the organism detected and the “accepted” health status of the colony.
  • Mice from the area will continue to be shipped.
  • The presence of the agent will be reported on the Animal Health Status Report from the area.

Important:  if there are concerns about organisms that we classify as "opportunistic" or "other", inquire whether the mice will come from a production colony, a research colony, or one of the small resource colonies listed on our health report as “Other”.  If your institution will NOT accept animals with agents in these categories please inform us at the time of order placement.

III. General Communication Activities Associated with Animal Health Notices

  • Mailings related to animal health notices will go to the general JAX® Mice mailing list.
  • Information related to animal health notices will remain posted on our Web site for at least 6 months from the original date of the notice.
  • In some cases, we will provide additional information or updates to the original notice by mail, by fax, and/or by postings on our Web site.