Management of Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) Mice and Rats

Abstract

Specific pathogen free (SPF) status is a relative term that varies from one animal facility to another depending on the number of pathogens in their exclusion list to be tested and determined free. The two main critical aspects of SPF rodent facilities management include an engrained health surveillance program and an exclusion list or SPF list. The veterinarian in charge of the animal facility in consultation with institutional management and users of the animal facility will decide on the exclusion list of pathogens. There are several factors like personal safety, animal welfare, and research quality which will influence the preparation of the exclusion list. Animals for modern biomedical research need to have defined levels of pathogens and other infectious agents that may change the results of research. It is a well-known fact that the microbiological quality of experimental animals has an influence on animal welfare and can affect the validity and reproducibility of research data. This chapter attempts to describe the various aspects of the management of SPF mice and rat facilities.