Stress-like responses to common procedures in male rats housed alone or with other rats. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 8.
Assess the cardiovascular function and behavior of male Sprague-Dawley rats housed individually or with one or three cagemates during resting conditions and when subjected to cage change (transferred to clean cage), restraint and subcutaneous injection (held and saline injected subcutaneously over nape of neck), restraint and tail vein injection (rat placed in restrainer, tail immersed into warm water and saline injected into tail vein), odor of urine and feces from stressed rats (exposed to paper towel with urine and feces from rats newly housed 6 to a cage), odor of dried rat blood (exposed to paper towel containing dried blood of a decapitated rat) Heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and movement in the cage were collected by using radiotelemetry for 24 h on an experiment-free day and for 2 h before and 3 h after each of the above procedures. Home cage behaviors (sleeping, awake, moving, rearing, and grooming) were scored once each minute for 15 min before and 45 min after the acute procedures. Baselines MAP- 4 / cage-Lower than others both light and dark cycles HR- 4/cage lower than singly Activity greatest in 4/ cage Significant increases in HR/ MAP and Activity for all groups during dark cycles, when compared to light cycle. Cage Changes Single and 2/cage HR increased over baseline 90-120 minutes after change, 4/cage similar increase but return to baseline on 30 minutes. MAP showed similar changes, except 4/group decreased below baseline after 90-180 minutes. Subcutaneous injection All had significant increases in HR and MAP, and single housed animals had a significantly larger increase Tail Vein Injection All groups-HR significantly increased over baseline and returned to after 75-90 minutes. With rats 2/ cage showing the greatest effect. MAP increased after procedure and returned to baseline in 60 minutes with no differences between groups. Exposure to Urine and feces. HR and MAP increased over baseline, with 2 and 4 /cage showing the least increase, both measure returned to baseline within 15-90 minutes Exposure to dried blood HR- single had greatest increase, took 100 minutes to return to baseline, 2/cage returned to baseline in 30 minutes. 4/cage had increase and returns similar for rats exposed to a clean paper towel. MAP had similar responses. Behavior Changes All procedures reduced sleeping behaviors with rats housed 4/cage returning to baseline sleeping behavior more quickly than did rats in the other housing groups. Responses of HR and MAP observed under various housing conditions are dependant on the procedure. Floor space was of the stipulated by federal regulations for the 4/ cage group, no evidence that this crowding caused stress as the resting HR and MAP were less than the other groups and their HR response to procedures was less than the other groups. Routine procedure such as cage change induced as much change in HR and MAP as did an injection procedure. Based on this study, when measuring resting cardiovascular parameters, data should not be obtained for at least 2 hours after a cage change. Concluded that under resting conditions, rats housed four per cage were less stressed than were rats housed alone, that common procedures induce noteworthy stress-like responses in male rats, and that the magnitude and duration of these responses are reduced by group housing

Questions:
None provided

Stress-like responses to common procedures in rats: effect of the estrous cycle. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 15.
Previous studies have shown that the response to acute stress may be influenced by gender. Stress responses in female rats are reduced by ovariectomy. Furthermore, estrogen treatment can reverse the effects of ovariectomy and enhance stress responses. Progesterone has been shown to reduce or eliminate stress responses. As expected there are conflicting results with regard to the effects of the estrous cycle on stress responses. This may be due to interstudy variability with regard to stressors used, duration of stressor, methods of measurement etc. The objective of the study here was to characterize the behavioral and cardiovascular responses to routine husbandry and experimental proecedures in female rats at different stages of the estrous cycle. The authors hypothesized that stress responses would be exaggerated on days when serum estradiol levels were maximally elevated (proestrus) or when estrogen-induced changes are maximal (estrus), and reduced during metestrus and diestrus when estradiol levels are low. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: a. the manipulated group and b. the witnessing group (to procedures below). Stress-responses were measured with regard to HR, MAP and cage behaviors. A surgically placed radiotlemetry transmitter was in the abdominal cavity and was attached to a femoral arterial catheter for the measurement of MAP and HR in all rats. Cage behaviors were monitored: moving, grooming, rearing were presented here. Rats of both groups were subjected to the following procedures: Cage change, restraint and s.c. injection, restraint and tail vein injection, decapitation (measured in witnessing group only), odor of urine and feces from stressed rats, odor of dried rat blood. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Common husbandry and experimental procedures induced stress-like cardiovascular responses in unrestrained, adult, Sprague-Dawley female rats. Elevations in MAP and HR were seen for all animals for all procedures and were more markedly increased for the "manipulated" group. Suprisingly, a routine cage changing procedure resulted in statistically significant elevations in HR for up to 90 minutes. The authors noted that procedures perceived by humans to be very stressful to rats (decapitation) did not result in more marked elevations in MAP, HR than other procedures. Moving, rearing, and grooming behavior in the home cage was evident prior to the procedures and was notably increased in animals subjected to a cage change but not to other procedures. This study showed that the stage of estrous cycle does not affect the CV responses to most of the common procedures tested. When estrous cycle-associated effects were seen, CV responses were greater during metestrus-diestrus than proestrus-estrus. The authors conclude that responses are generally not affected by stage of estrous cycle but responses were greater than those previously observed in male rats . In this previous report, they found that moving male Sprague-Dawley rats to a new cage induced increases in HR and MAP to a similar magnitude but of lesser duration than that of the females in the current study. Non-sleeping behaviors were not affected by stage of estrous cycle. These results agree with some studies but not with others.

Questions:
1. The authors hypothesized that stress responses would be elevated during phases of elevated estradiol. During what stages of the rat estrous cycle is estrogen relatively elevated? When is estrogen relatively decreased? What did they actually show?
2. The authors compare the findings of this study to that of another study in which HR and MAP were measured in male rats following cage changing. What do they conclude from this comparison?
3. How was MAP and HR measured in this study?

Answers:
1. Estradiol is increased during proestrus and estrus and decreased during metestrus and diestrus of the rat estrous cycle. They found that in general, the stage of estrous cycle had no effect on measurements of MAP and HR. The exception was rats of the witnessing group to exposure to dried blood (it seems that the witnessing rats only had a plain paper towel placed on their cage) where the metestrus-diestrus rats had significantly greater responses than did the proestrus-estrus group.
2. In comparison to their previous study in male SD rats, the degree of elevations in HR and MAP following cage changing procedure were similar but the male rats demonstrated a more rapid return to baseline. They conclude that gender probably does contribute to the particularly prolonged stress responses seen in the female rats. However, they did not show that the stage of the estrous cycle had an effect on stress response.
3. HR and MAP were measured with abdominally placed telemetry transponders.

Use of molecular methods for genetic monitoring of an institutional mouse breeding colony. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 23.
Two molecular methods for monitoring genetic integrity of mouse colonies, simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) analysis and restriction length fragment polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, were compared.
SSLPs (or microsatellites) are simple sequence repeats, such as the di-nucleotide (CA)n repeat, found throughout the mouse genome. These repeats are amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Different mouse strains have different lengths of SSLPs and these differences have been well characterized (<http://www.informatics.jax.org>). Thus, these regions can be used for genetic monitoring of mouse colonies.
Hypervariable tandem-repetitive regions longer than SSLPs are also present in the mouse genome. These repeats are classified as minisatellites and are 10 to 40 base pairs in length. These regions are present at multiple sites throughout the genome and a single hybridized DNA probe can detect the many homologous hypervariable loci in a restriction enzyme-digested genome simultaneously. Differences in restriction fragment size (RFLPs) can be detected by this methodology making it a useful tool for genetic monitoring of mouse colonies.
The authors tested three in-house colonies that had been maintained for over 35 generations. Eleven chromosomes were tested by SSLP analysis, and RFLP analysis was performed using several different minisatellite probes. The authors concluded that genetic integrity had been maintained in their colonies because few polymorphisms were detected. No SSLPs were detected and only a few RFLPs were detected. The authors concluded that RFLP analysis is less labor intensive and provides greater sensitivity for genetic monitoring of mouse colonies.

Questions:
1. Which is NOT true of simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs)?
a. They are found throughout the genome
b. They require the use of restriction enzymes for detection
c. They require the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
d. They are well characterized for many commonly used inbred mouse strains
e. They are also called microsatellites
2. Which is NOT true of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)?
a. Detection requires the use of PCR
b. They are present at multiple sites throughout the genome
c. They require the use of restriction enzymes for detection
d. One DNA probe can detect many homologous minisatellites simultaneously
e. They are longer than SSLPs
3. Which of the following have been used to monitor genetic integrity of mouse colonies?
a. Skin grafting
b. Biochemical and immunologic markers
c. Morphologic characteristics, such as mandible measurements
d. Molecular methods such as SSLP and RFLP
e. All of the above
4. What are the advantages of RFLP analysis over SSLP analysis for genetic monitoring of mouse colonies?
a. Ability to evaluate multiple loci with a single probe
b. Less labor intensive
c. Chromosomal distribution of minisatellite markers is well characterized
d. A and B
e. All of the above

Answers:
1. B
2. A
3. E
4. D

Assessment of static isolator cages with automatic watering when used with conventional husbandry techniques as a factor in the transmission of mouse hepatitis virus. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 30.
Bottomline: Use of automatic watering systems in static filter top cages using conventional husbandry techniques does not prevent the spread of MHV.
MHV, is a name for murine coronaviral strains that are polytropic and have significant potential to disrupt mouse based research. They are enveloped viruses, which should be killed by heat and detergents. However, their stability in the environment is unknown. It is known that practices combining the use of sterilized water bottles, filter top caging, and changing cages in a class II biosafety cabinet protects against the spread of MHV. This study was established to evaluate the efficiency of combining automatic watering systems with static filter top cages handled using conventional husbandry techniques (i.e. not in a hood) in protecting against transmission of MHV. Combining these husbandry techniques is a cost-limiting regime that requires significantly less time than changing out individual water bottles in cages and cost of biosafety cabinets.
The study utilized one double-sided 72 cage rack with external valves on one side and shielded internal valves on the other. One cage of mice on each shelf of both rack sides was infected with MHV-A59. Each row also contained one standard (no filter top) cage of uninoculated mice located at various distances from the infected animals while the remaining cages had filter tops. Various uninoculated mice were tested at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after infection of test animals.
At 8 weeks all remaining mice were tested. 54 cages were tested by serology, 24 by PCR of fecal samples. At 8 weeks post inoculation, mice in one uninoculated cage (with a filter top and internal water valve) was found positive for MHV by serology. Nine cages were found positive via PCR at 8 weeks post inoculation.
The results of this study suggest that although MHV transmission was not prevented, it was contained for approximately 6 weeks. It was also found that the internal shielded watering valves afforded no more protection for virus infection than the external.

Questions:
1. MHV can be contained without the use of filter top cages. True or False
2. Shielded internal watering valves afford a great deal of protection against infection with MHV.

Answers:
1. False
2. False

Herpes B virus-specific pathogen-free breeding colonies of macaques: serologic test results and the B-virus status of the macaque. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 36.
Endemic in macaques, B virus is an alphaherpesvirus that can produce herpetic lesions and become latent within sensory nerve ganglia in the natural host. In humans however, exposure to B virus can result in an ascending paralysis and lethal encephalitis. With human mortality rates of approaching 80%, in 1999 the NIH initiated a nation wide program to establish B virus SPF macaque colonies for biomedical research. Six institutions housing several thousand macaques were selected for the study. During the first year of the program, one to five serum samples were obtained from each animal. Each sample was screened for B virus using three different ELISA techniques and Western blot analysis. During the second, third and fourth years, macaques negative for B virus antibodies were moved to larger SPF groups. The first three years represented the screening phase, during which time the probability of an animal having a non negative test result decreased. Beyond four years, a maintenance phase was established, and the probability of a non negative test result fell to 0.005. The greatest threat to the program's integrity were those animals which had seroconverted years after entering and SPF colony. The goal of this study was to determine if analyses of retrospective data are an accurate reflection of current B virus status. Pretest serum samples were screened with Titration ELISA (TELISA). Animals with two negative samples one month apart were admitted to the SPF program. Weak (<1:50) or indeterminate (>1:50, < 1:500) TELISA results were then tested using Western blot. Indeterminate Western blots tests were further tested using competition ELISA (CELISA). Macaques with three consecutive negative CELISAs, each one month apart, entered the SPF program. All animals with indeterminate or positive results on confirmatory tests were culled. A single colony with the most comprehensive housing data was initially studied to determine analysis and identification of seroreactivity patterns. Breeders were housed singly until all initial sample processing was complete (120 to 130 days). Breeding groups were established using seven females and one male in an outdoor unit, with final group sizes consisting of fifty females and five males. At eight months of age infants were weaned, blood samples collected and 12 to 15 animals were assigned to a peer group. Females remained segregated until 3 years of age, and 5 years of age for males. ELISA results were staged as follows: 0 is negative, 1 is <1:5, 2 is < 1:50,3 is < 1:500, 4 is < 1:5000 and 5 is >1:5000.The probability of reverting to a negative status on the next test ranged from 85% for stage 0 to 29% for stage 4. None of the stage 5 animals reverted to negative on the next test. Data analysis revealed that some stage 3 animals demonstrated seroconversion. Normally, in rhesus macaques, antibodies to Herpes B can be detected between 14 and 21 days, however, not all macaques nor humans display a conventional pattern of B virus antibody development post infection. Some individuals show cyclical seroreactivity interspersed with negative episodes, while in others there is increasing seroreactivity, with few or no negative episodes. Furthermore, without frequent exposure to the agent, B virus establishes latency in sensory nerve ganglia and antibody titres can decline. Therefore, although screening for B virus is not a foolproof method for confirming presence or absence of infection, other methodologies including viral culture and PCR based tests are not useful for surveillance of SPF colonies. A ELISA titer of >1:500 or a positive result on a confirmatory test was the best indicator of seroconversion. Seroreactivity patterns during the screening phase of SPF colony development were more useful in identifying positive B virus individuals than seen during the maintenance phase. Currently, through examination of these seroreactivity patterns, the National B Virus Laboratory is examining accuracy of existing test methodologies in determining B virus status. Future plans include development of specific and generic ELISA antigens for B virus detection, mechanization of ELISA testing and computerization of Western blot analysis. Current recommendations when attempting to establish SPF breeding colonies include permanent segregation of macaques into different housing groups, making containment and identification of positive reactors easier. Working on the premise that all macaques, including SPF individuals are positive for B virus, personnel must adhere to strict guidelines regarding personal protective equipment, familiarization with bite/scratch kits, immediate wound management, post exposure care and incident reporting mechanism.

Questions:
1.What is the scientific name for B virus?
2. Name two other viruses which have been tested as potential antigens for ELISA testing ?

Answers:
1. Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1
2. Herpes Simplex 1, Human Papilloma Virus 2

Laboratory diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a colony-raised pigtailed macaque. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 42.
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite of humans and wild and domestic animals. It is the causative agent in Chagas' disease which is widespread in South and Central America and in Mexico. Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted to animals when the feces of blood-sucking triatomine insects (family Reduvidae) contaminates a bite wound, mucous membranes or conjunctiva. The organism can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and transplacentally.
Triatomine bugs ingest infected blood, multiplication takes place in the digestive tract, and the infective form (metacyclic trypomastigote) is eliminated in the feces. Control is by elimination of vectors with insecticides, control of sylvatic reservoirs (raccoons, opposums, nine banded armadillos, wood rat, Norway rat, house mouse, striped skunk, squirrels, bats, others) and screening programs.
Acute signs of Chagas' disease in humans include Romana's sign (unilateral, bipalpebral edema, conjunctivitis, and local lymphadenopathy), chagoma (furuncle-like lesion with local lymphadenopathy), fever, malaise and headache, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, myocarditis and meningoencephalitis. The acute stage typically resolves spontaneously and progresses into a latent stage which persists into adulthood. The chronic stage is characterized by heart disease, cardiac arrest, megacolon and megaesophagus
Diagnostic tests include examination of fresh blood for motile organisms, stained blood smears, buffy coat or sediment analysis, culture (chronic stage), serologic assay and PCR.
In this report, an adult male Macaca nemestrina (pig-tailed macaque) originating from a colony of indoor housed animals was transported to Tulane Primate Center in an outdoor enclosure before ending up in the Washington Primate Center where it is presently housed indoors. T.cruzi was discovered when the animal was screened for an AIDS-related project, but no signs or symptoms have been apparent. The monkey was treated with ketoconazole for 2 weeks, but repeat B cell cultures remained positive for the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma.
Parasite culture: Lymphocytes were separated from whole blood and cultured. The epimastigotes were visible in 3-4 weeks
Molecular: DNA from the epimastigote was amplified by PCR and sequenced.
Serology: The monkey was seropositive for T. cruzi.
Discussion: This is the first documented case of T cruzi infection in a pigtailed macaque in North America. It is suspected that the animal was exposed to triatomine bugs in Louisiana while being housed outdoors. The animal has had an asymptomatic parasitemia for 20 months and appears generally healthy. Treatment with ketoconazole failed to eliminate the infection, but in mice it was critical for the animals to be treated immediately after infection (first 24 hours) in order to eliminate it.

Questions:
1) Chagas's disease is caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite. Which of the following statements is true:
a) Triatomine bugs transmit the parasite to animals when they bite the animal.
b) The feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate a bite wound on an animal causing infection.
c) T. cruzi cannot be transmitted by blood transfusion since the protozoa has to mature through the vector.
d) The only animal reservoirs of T.cruzi are the opossum and raccoon.
2) Diagnostic testing for Trypanosomiasis includes all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Looking for motile organisms in anticoagulated blood
b) Stained thick blood smears
c) Peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture
d) Complete blood count to detect a non-regenerative anemia.

Answers:
1) B
2) D

The effects of uncomplicated miscarriages and stillbirths on the ability of baboons to return to cyclicity and subsequently conceive. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 46.
The authors of this paper wanted to determine if the assumption that uncomplicated miscarriages and stillbirths had no effect of the future breeding efficiency of baboons in their colony. The colony was comprised of mostly the olive subspecies with perhaps some mixed ancestry with yellow. They defined "uncomplicated" as the lack of any detectable infection, inflammation, pathology, or uterine/vaginal trauma. A stillbirth was differentiated from a neonatal death by necropsy findings, and was defined as occurring after 162 days or more of gestation. Before 162 days, the event was considered a miscarriage.

After the authors analyzed the data, they determined that either miscarriages or stillbirths do not adversely affect a baboon's future ability to return to normal estrus cycling and to conceive. They do note that animals who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth seems to be more likely to have another miscarriage or stillbirth than mothers who deliver a normal infant, but the numbers are too few to make any true statistical conclusion.

Questions:
1. What are the genus and species names of the olive and yellow subspecies of baboons?
2. What is "gang" housing?
3. What are the stages of the estrous cycle in the baboon?

Answers:
1. Papio hamadryas anubis and P. h. cynocephalus
2. One fertile adult male is housed with many (10-13) adult females.
3. Follicular, midcyle (estus), and luteal

Femoral fracture repair and postoperative management in New Zealand white rabbits. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 49.
This article reports 2 cases of open fracture reduction and stabilization of the left femur after an oblique femoral fracture was diagnosed in New Zealand White rabbits. These rabbits were being used as a model to study osteoarthritis.

Model: 20 rabbits underwent an experimental inta-articular fracture of the left stifle which affected the tibial plateau and femoral condyles. Under general anesthesia (induced w/ IM ketamine/xylazine, maintained w/ isoflurane) rabbits were placed under a "drop tower" device that consisted of a vertical rail that allowed a weighted sled to accelerate smoothly onto a custom-fitted impaction device that rested on the medial femoral condylar articular surface. The condyles were secured with a transfixation pin to keep the femur in a vertical orientaton and allow delivery of consistent perpendicular impacts. After impaction, an oscillating saw was used to create a single anteroposterior osteotomy in the middle of the medial articular surface and underlying metaphyseal bone. The osteotomy traversed the area that received the maximal impaction by the drop-tower device. The fragment was reattached rigidly w/ a cortical lag screw and a Kirschner wire to control rotation, creating .5 mm displacement at the articular surface. This procedure created a reproducible articular fracture. Three layer closure was performed. Postop, rabbits were given LRS, Baytril for 7 days and buprenorphine for 3 days.

Cases: DJ14 recovered w/out incident through day 17 then presented nonweight bearing lame w/ abduction and lateral rotation of the distal left rear leg. Stifle and quadriceps muscles were swollen and warm. Xrays revealed a displaced long oblique mid-shaft femur fracture w/ initial callus formation. DJ19 presented w/ abduction and lateral rotation of the distal left rear leg 2 days postop accompanied by bruising and a large hematoma. Xrays revealed a short oblique distal femoral fracture. Femoral Fracture Repair: Animals were to be used as part of a chronic study, over 6 months so repair was deemed appropiate. Under anesthesia, a lateral approach to the distal femur was used (the medial surface had screws and Kirschner wires from the previous surgery). A Kirschner wire of a diameter of .062 was selected for the IM stabilization device as it was sufficiently flexible to allow easy passage into the femoral canal while being sufficiently stiff to promote reduction. The wire was intoduced obliquely in the distal lateral femoral condyle after being pre-bent in 2 places to facilitate introduction and advancement of the wire. Intraoperative flouroscopy was used to confirm the hardware placement. A Kirschner cerclage wire (.032") was placed around the fracture site in an attempt to control rotation and angulation. Range of motion of the stifle was assessed and closure in 3 layers was performed. Xrays were taken postop to confirm fracture apposition. Postop, the hind legs were hobbled proximal to the hock in a figure-eight pattern to prevent limb abduction and to prevent pressure ulcers. Baytril was given for 10 days, buprenorphine for 3 days and subcu LRS for 3 days. E-collars were placed and removed once daily to allow grooming. Rabbits were housed in isolation to minimize noise and disturbances that can startle rabbits and cause thumping of the rear legs. Results: Transient anorexia was observed but resolved once buprenorphine was discontinued. 3 week xrays revealed healing fractures and callus formation. Hobbles removed at 4 weeks post-fixation and the rabbits were observed to be using the legs and showed increased muscle development. Xrays 5 months after fixation showed stabilization with no displacement of the hardware and marked callus with remodeling.

Discussion: Low bone density and large muscle mass predispose rabbits to fractures, only 7% of their total body weight is in the form of skeletal mass. Most frequent fracture in rabbits is of the vertebral bodies at L6 and L7. The surgery used to create the model altered the structural integrity of the bone and with normal thumping behavior, a fracture resulted in these 2 individuals. Simple transverse femoral fractures of lightweight animals can be treated with IM fixation but other methods provide better stabiliztion in larger species. IM fixation is particularly superoir over the use of dynamic compression plates or external fixation in light of the low density and small diameter cortices of the long bones in rabbits. Diligent postop care is essential to complement the fracture repair. Stress may cause thumping behavior which may increase the risk of failure of the repair. E-collars and analgesia help protect sites as rabbits may self mutilate painful areas. Buprenorphine, a partial opiate agonist, was used because of its long duration (8-10hrs), but can be associated with hyperactivity, abnormal behavior, anorexia and weight loss. It was suspected to cause anorexia in these 2 rabbits. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are well tolerated and can be considered. E-collars will limit self grooming and may hinder access to food and water and prevent cecotrophy. The E-collar should only be used with regular cleaning of the rabbit and supplementation with B-vitamins should be provided.

Questions:
1. Why is isolation of the rabbits post interal femoral fracture repair so important?
2. Where is the most common fracture site in rabbits?
3. Why were hobbles used?
4. Why are rabbits so prone to fractures?

Answers:
1. It is important to minimize stess so as to not invoke the thumping behavior.
2. L6-L7
3. Hobbles were used to prevent limb abduction and prevent pressure sores.
4. Rabbits have low bone density with a large muscle mass. Only 7% of their total body weight is in the form of skeletal mass, compared to 13% in cats.

Transmission pattern of parainfluenza 3 virus in guinea pig breeding herds. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 53.
Guinea pigs infected with Parainfluenza 3 virus (PIV3) are used widely as a model to study mechanisms of virus-induced asthma and airway hyperreactivity. This study was undertaken to explore unexplained experimental variations in airway responsiveness observed when guinea pigs were used in respiratory experiments. In searching for the cause, antibodies to PIV3 were found in guinea pigs from the originating breeding colony.
Signs of PIV3, which infects a variety of species, include fever, lacrimation, nasal discharge, dyspnea, coughing. As well, PIV3 predisposes animals to secondary bacterial infections. In most species, including guinea pigs, the signs of infection are minimal.
The group looked at the kinetics of antibody titers against PIV3 to reveal the time of seroconversion in the guinea pig breeding colony. As well, transmission patterns for PIV3 were assessed.
Results:
Guinea pigs of different ages from a breeding colony were analyzed for antibody titers. Highest titers of antibody against PIV3 were seen in sera collected from dams and from the youngest offspring (5-11 day-old g.pigs). After this period, PIV3 titers continuously decreased until the offspring were 27-33 days of age.
When a subset of 6 guinea pigs was removed from the breeding colony, their antibody titers declined until 1 month of age, and remained stable at a low level; however, animals that remained in the breeding colony experienced significantly higher titers at 13 weeks of age. This indicated that cessation of breeding may be a possible way to eradicate PIV3 infection.
Seroconversion of sentinel animals occurred at approximately a 50% rate within 6 weeks of co-housing with young experimental animals. However, no seroconversion was detected when sentinels were introduced to 6-month old animals. Therefore, no virus persistence could be detected at 6 months of age by virus transmission from guinea pigs to susceptible sentinel animals.

Questions:
1) What species are susceptible to infection with PIV3?
2) T/F. 5-11 day old g. pigs have persistently high antibody titers.
3) Name a method that might be used to eradicate PIV3 infection.
4) Is PIV3 a zoonoses?

Answers:
1) Dogs, horses, guinea pigs, hamsters, cotton rats, sheep, cows, nonhuman primates, humans
2) False. The antibody titers decline by approximately 1 month of age.
3) Cessation of breeding.
4) Possibly; the paper mentions that PIV3 in these guinea pigs may have been introduced by contact with humans.

Behavioral management: it's everyone's job. Contemporary Topics 41 (4): 58.
Behavioral management as a concept provides a common ground from which animal facilities may start to build a succesful facility behavioral program. The goal to achieve is to provide the best care and environment we can for the animals in our charge and is everyone's responsibility and duty to work together to achieve this goal. As an integrative, proactive approach to animal care and management, the behavioral management system discussed here offers many benefits to laboratory animals and staff. Captive animal management experienced two "revolutions" in the last 15 years. 1. Recognition of environmental enrichment as an important and necessary component of animal care and welfare. 2. Recognition of positive reinforcement training as a valuable tool to enhance the care and welfare of captive animals. Environmental enrichment plus positive reinforcement training provided a powerful means to address the behavioral, social, psycological and physical needs of laboratory animals. Additionally, one of the most important factors to creating a successful animal program is having a well-designed facility. The strength of a behavioral management system lies in the principle that all aspects of an animal program are interrelated. Therefore, incorporating animal behavior into the design phase of a facility project can allow behavioral concerns to be adressed prior to construction and not as an afterthought. Behavioral management can be a tremendous aid to veterinary clinical care of animals. Five areas represent several key roles the veterinary staff can contribute to the program. 1. Risk-benefit analysis of proposed behavioral techniques or enrichment systems. 2. Active role in pairing/grouping in the socialization process of NHP. 3. Constant communication and coordination with the animal support staff. 4.The veterinarian is often the person in the behavioral management team who has the most contact with the PI and may have a detailed understanding on the nature of the research therefore is able to balance the needs of the animals with the needs of the study. 5. Can be a source of knowledge and ideas for the team and ensure that the enrichment devices and systems are safe for the intentended animals. By combining these elements with sound facility design and responsive operational procedures, a behavioral management system can be realized that is functional, versatile and highly effective in providing optimal care for animals.

Questions:
1. Name two important components in an animal care program.
2. Name 2 areas in which the veterinary staff can contribute to a behavioral management program.

Answers:
1. - Environmental enrichment - Facility design.
2. - Risk benefit analysis of enrichment systems. - Detailed understanding of the nature of the research being done.