Infectious Risks
Overview of Infectious Risks
Unless experimentally infected with a zoonotic agent, research animals generally carry a limited number of infectious microorganisms of concern to animal users. This is mainly due to the existence of preventative medicine programs and the frequent use of specific pathogen free animals in research projects. Although infrequent, the risk of infection between research animals and humans does exist and must be recognized in order to avoid exposure. For example, dogs or cats may shed Giardia in their feces, rodents naturally carry a bacteria that causes rat-bite fever in humans, wild-caught mammals might be infected with the rabies virus, and Salmonella could be shed by a number of domestic and wild species, from reptiles to cows.
Infectious agents generally pose a higher risk to immunosuppressed people, pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Special care must be taken to avoid contact between vulnerable people and infectious agents of animal origin.
Research projects may involve the use of biohazardous agents as part of their study design. Areas where biohazardous agents are used must be appropriately labeled. Specific recommendations and restrictions must be clearly posted and enforced at all times. Projects using biohazardous pathogens must undergo additional review by the Institutional Biosafety Committee. The Committee reviews the details of the study and evaluates the precautions needed to minimize the risk for all involved in the project. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that infectious agents are used safely and conform to existing standards published by the Center for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Edition, CDC-NIH 2007).
Lab Animal Safety Sheets (by Species)
- Amphibians
- Birds (Wild-caught)
- Cats
- Dogs
- Farm Animals
- Fish
- Mammals (Wild-caught)
- Reptiles
- Rodents
- Rodents (Wild-caught)