Animal Transport

SUBJECT:

Animal Transport

 Effective Date:
4/25/2025 		Policy Number:
10.4.10
听 Supersedes:
5/27/2022
6/07/2019
6/24/2016 		Page 1 of 6
听 Responsible Authorities:
Principal Investigator
Vice President, Research
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Associate Vice President for Research, Research Integrity
Comparative Medicine
  1. Background

    Transporting animals can be stressful and can increase the potential for disease transmission or injury, so should be minimized to the extent possible. The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states that transportation "should be planned to minimize transit time and the risk of zoonosis, protect against environmental extremes, avoid overcrowding, provide food and water when indicated, and protect against physical trauma.". The Animal Welfare Act and Regulations AWAR (搂2.38, f) addresses the transit of animals as part of adequate "handling", which implies that the IACUC must consider transportation of animals. Furthermore, the PHS Policy includes vehicles for transports of animals in its definition of an animal facility.

  2. Purpose

    To establish a policy that will provide guidance to Research Personnel and Animal Care Staff, in order to maintain high standards for quality of research, animal health and welfare during transport.

  3. General Statement

    Animals will be transported in a manner that prevents injury, discourages observation by the public, and protects the environment of the animal holding system.

  4. Definitions
    1. Transport is the transfer of animals between rooms in the same facility, between buildings on the same campus, between buildings of different campuses, between different natural field settings, a commercial wildlife animal supplier and the experimental site, or between natural field settings and campus buildings. Buildings can house vivaria or research laboratories approved to be used with live animals.
    2. Biosecurity encompasses all measures developed and implemented to detect, prevent, contain, and eradicate adventitious infections. To exclude those infections, research animals are maintained behind sanitized and disinfected room- to cage-level barriers provided with filtered air and sanitized supplies and equipment as appropriate for the species protected.
    3. Conventional Animal Housing Area, for the sake of this policy, is defined as any animal facility/room/cubicle where animals may be transported out of and return. Although many of the management practices, including security access, are shared with the modified barrier housing area, the biosecurity level is lower meaning that the risk of introducing an excluded microbial agent is higher.
    4. Modified Barrier Housing Area, for the sake of this policy, is defined as any animal facility/room/cubicle where animals can only leave the facility for terminal procedures and may not be returned to the room. This provides higher biosecurity and therefore lower risk for introducing any excluded microbial agent.
  5. Policy
    1. Animals housed in conventional facilities or rooms may not be moved into modified barrier facilities. Animals already housed in modified barrier facilities should only leave the modified barrier for terminal procedures. Animals that exit barrier facilities for any reason may not return to barrier facilities/rooms thereafter. However, if experimental procedures cannot be accomplished in the modified barrier facility, specific justification must be approved by the IACUC and the Attending Veterinarian (AV) and particular safeguards implemented.
    2. It is the responsibility of research as well as animal care staff to know and abide by the proper sequence of entry into rooms and cubicles with differing biosecurity levels. A list of centralized facilities, rooms, and cubicles associated with corresponding classification can be found at /research-admin/comparativemedicine/animal-health-surveillance/. In addition, room entrance doors are appropriately labeled.
    3. Transport involving CM managed facilities are approved by the AV based on health status of facility, room(s), and/or animal(s), experimental status of animal (e.g., chronically instrumented, post-operative period) and available space/housing conditions. In circumstances where a requested transport is not approved AV will work with the research team to accomplish the goals of the study in a location that is appropriate for the study, and to which transport can be approved.
    4. Transport of animals housed in CM managed facilities should be performed by CM staff unless otherwise described and approved in the relevant IACUC protocol.
    5. Transport of animals between PI managed facilities does not require coordination through CM, however general transport rules still apply. In addition, any transport of animals housed in PI managed facilities must be addressed in the IACUC protocol and/or research lab specific SOP(s) that are approved by the IACUC.
    6. Cages and other appropriate containers used for transport of terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic animals should:
      1. limit exposure to allergens, waste products, or odors
      2. provide sufficiently oxygenated air or water
      3. avoid leakage
      4. protect from direct sun and disruptive weather conditions such as heat, cold, rain, wind, etc.
      5. safeguard against physical harm,
      6. prevent animal escape
      7. protect from public view if applicable.
    7. Sufficient Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn to assure health and well-being of personnel and must match the PPE requirements of the most stringent facility being accessed.
    8. If animals used in ABSL 2 studies need to be transported via any vehicle, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations have to be followed and the transport container labeled accordingly. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) must be contacted with any related questions.
    9. Transport of animals using private vehicles, departmentally owned vehicles, or golf carts must be described in an approved IACUC protocol and inspected by the IACUC during semi-annual inspections. Animals may NOT be transported by bicycle, motorbike, for hire transportation, ride-share transportation, or public transportation, including 糖心Vlog operated public transportation.
    10. Pedestrian transport by hand carry or cart between facilities on the same 糖心Vlog campus is allowed, however the manner of transport and the precise route to be taken must be planned in advance in order to ensure the best possible route in regards to distance, safety, and security.
    11. Vivarium caging cannot be removed from the animal facility unless specifically authorized by CM; CM provides non-standard caging for on-campus animal transport.
    12. Returned transport cages must be sanitized before reuse either by use of the facilitys cage washer, or by a method of sanitation described in the IACUC protocol or in research lab specific SOP(s).
    13. Live animals may not remain outside of approved housing facilities for more than 12 hours unless specifically approved in the IACUC protocol. If animals are to be kept outside an approved housing facility for more than one (1) hour, access to food and water must be provided unless restriction has been stipulated and approved in the protocol.
    14. While use of a cart may be permitted if approved by the IACUC, it is discouraged since vibrations of the wheels are readily transferred to the animal cages. This increases animal stress significantly and may also critically affect research results. Hand carrying bags containing animal cages is the best choice for their health and comfort.
  6. Accountability

    The Principal Investigator (PI) will be responsible for:

    • Assuring that all research personnel understand and follow this policy.
    • Communicating with CM staff in a timely manner regarding any transport related issues including requesting transfer of animals and vivarium caging needed.
    • Assuring safe transport of animals as described in the IACUC protocol and/or lab specific SOP(s) and approved by the IACUC and Director, CM.

    The IACUC will be responsible for:

    • Reviewing IACUC protocols and/or amendments requesting transport of animals by research staff, and rendering a decision to either approve, require modification(s) in order to secure approval, or withhold approval.
    • Reviewing and approving research lab-specific SOP(s) in regards to animal transport.
    • Inspecting departmental- or privately-owned vehicles and golf carts intended for animal transport.
    • Inspecting caging and secondary containers used to transport animals

    The Research Integrity office will be responsible for:

    • Administrative support of the IACUC members to facilitate their regulatory function.
    • Maintaining policy and assure regular review and update as necessary by the IACUC.
    • Communicating with the research lab and scheduling inspection of transport vehicles and/or golf carts.
    • Scheduling regular review of research lab specific SOP(s) by the IACUC.

    The Office of Comparative Medicine (CM) will be responsible for:

    • Transporting animals within an animal facility and between buildings/campuses as per PI request following this policy and CM internal SOP(s).
    • Providing guidance to PIs in regards to appropriate transport of animals.
    • A CM veterinarian reviewing protocols and research lab specific SOPs relating to transport of animals. Reviewing requests for, and approving removal and return of research animals to vivaria, if appropriate.
  7. Procedures
    1. Animals housed in centralized vivaria should be transported by CM staff unless specifically approved in the IACUC protocol. The request should be made through the CM database (VSATS) with as much advance notice as possible, but no less than 24 hours prior to the anticipated need of the animals. An additional 24 hours should be allotted if the transport will have to occur during a holiday week or on a Monday.
    2. The vessel used to contain the animal(s) being transported should be appropriate to the species (i.e., terrestrial, semi-aquatic, aquatic)
    3. CM-owned caging should not be removed from the vivarium unless needed for housing in the research lab and must be arranged with CM staff; CM provides non-standard caging for on-campus animal transport.
    4. Hand-carry or cart-transport (pedestrian transport) across campus:
      1. While normal space requirements (The Guide; Table 3.2; Pg. 57) are desirable at all times, short-term pedestrian transport may be performed with non-standard caging systems or in non-transparent bags, as appropriate for the species.
      2. Non-standard containers for rodents
        1. Small containers (e.g., chow-mein boxes) should carry no more than one or two mice; for short distances (e.g., across the street)
        2. Medium containers (e.g., chicken buckets) should carry no more than five socially compatible mice or one rat.
        3. Larger containers (e.g., commercial transport cages) are appropriate for longer distances (i.e., across the state or between states) and will abide by the space requirements noted in The Guide.
        4. All containers must be covered during transport if exiting a CM-managed facility. Covering may include: blue paper, a clean sheet, a clean lab coat, or shopping bags provided at exit points of the vivaria.
        5. Containers must be secured to prevent animal escape. The container should be solid, leak proof, and have openings to allow air exchange.
      3. Non-standard containers for aquatic species:
        1. Use oxygenated water with an oxygen cap in a sealed bag.
        2. A source of additional oxygen might be necessary depending on the length of transport and density of animals in the container.
        3. Seal the first bag inside of a Styrofoam (or similar) container for transport. This protects the fish from sunlight, viewing, and rapid environmental changes, which can injure the animals.
        4. Use ice packs in the secondary container as necessary based on the species being transported.
      4. Transport caging must not be left unattended in a hallway or out-of-doors.
      5. The use of a bungee-cord or secure rubber bands is recommended. DO NOT use tape on a polycarbonate housing cage.
      6. If a cage or container spills feed, bedding, water, or animals during transport, the individual responsible will secure the animals, clean the area as best as possible, and then continue to their destination. A report of the spill, or loss of any animal, must be provided to the IACUC and CM. Use of a shopping bag or tank as a secondary container can reduce the risk of this type of adverse event.
    5. Transportation in an approved departmentally- or privately-owned vehicle: Transportation in non-CM vehicles must have prior approval by the IACUC. Contact the IACUC at resesarchintegrity@fau.edu to arrange an inspection time and date. Requirements for approval:
      1. The transportation activity is listed on the protocol or an amendment to the protocol.
      2. Adequate heating / cooling is available to maintain general animal comfort.
      3. Protection from direct sun.
      4. Protection from public view.
      5. Method to contain waste (e.g., plastic sheet under the cage, container around animal cage, etc.)
      6. Method to discourage allergens from contaminating the vehicle, since allergens may impact future human riders (container around animal cage, etc.)
      7. Method to secure the cage inside of the vehicle (e.g., bungee cords)
  8. Policy Renewal Date

    4/25/2028

  9. References
    1. Castelhano-Carlos MJ, Baumans V. The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats. 2009. Laboratory Animals; 43:311-327.
    2. The Guide for the Care & Use of Laboratory Animals; 8th Edition. NRC
    3. Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research, American Fisheries Society, 2014
    4. 2016 Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research and Education
    5. Guidelines for Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Research, ASIH, 2001

POLICY APPROVAL

Initiating Authority

Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D., Vice President for Research

Executed signature pages are available in the Initiating Authority Office(s)