Current Microbiological Status of Laboratory Mice and Rats in Experimental Facilities in Japan

Abstract

Abstract:On the basis of our 2011 microbiological monitoring tests, we report here the current microbiological status of mice and rats housed in experimental facilities in Japan. We tested more than 14,000 mice, 6,000 serum samples, 500 fecal or cecal samples, and 200 lung samples from 3,549 mouse facilities within Japanese universities and institutes (U/I), pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (P/C). We also tested more than 1,500 rats, 1,600 serum samples, and 20 fecal or cecal samples from 772 U/I and P/C rat facilities. Bacterial cultures, serology, microscopy, PCR, and DNA analysis using DNA chips were performed. Staphylococcus aureus (18.8% in mouse facilities, 58.6% in rat facilities) was the most prevalent agent in both the mouse and rat facilities. The next most prevalent agents in the mouse facilities were murine norovirus (11.97%), intestinal protozoa (0.05-8.49%, from various species), Pasteurella pneumotropica (5.32%), and Helicobacter hepaticus (3.17%), while intestinal protozoa (0.74-6.84% from various species), Syphacia muris (6.20%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.61%), and Pasteurella pneumotropica (3.05%) were the subsequent most prevalent agents in the rat facilities. These results suggest that the currently prevalent microbes in laboratory mice and rats in Japan are mainly opportunistic pathogens, intestinal protozoa, and microbes with low pathogenicity.

NovelHelicobacterspeciesH.japonicumisolated from laboratory mice from Japan induces typhlocolitis and lower bowel carcinoma in C57BL/129 IL10−/−mice

“…(MIT 01-6451) from mice from Japan during a survey of mice from commercial and academic institutions in Asian, Europe and Northern America (10). Subsequently, this species was reported to colonize a high prevalence of mice used in biomedical research in Japan (11,12). In this study, additional strains of this mouse Helicobacter spp.…”

Development of an ELISA Using a Recombinant P46-Like Lipoprotein for Diagnosis of <i>Mycoplasma pulmonis</i> Infection in Rodents

“…It is important to monitor for M. pulmonis infections so that the health of rodent colonies at important animal facilities can be maintained at the highest levels. Serological tests, such as ELISAs, are the most common methods for diagnosing Mycoplasma infections [5, 13]. In the present study, we developed an ELISA using a recombinant P46L protein as the antigen and found it to be sufficient for diagnosis of M. pulmonis infection comparing with a commercially available ELISA.…”

“…5). The commercial ELISA we used in this study is a standard test for diagnosis of M. pulmonis infection in laboratory mice and rats by International Council for Laboratory Animal Science Monitoring Center in Japan [11, 13]. Our results indicate that the P46L-GST ELISA we have developed is appropriate for determining the serological state of sera from M. pulmonis -infected mice and rats.…”

“…Serological assays that detect antibodies against pathogens are the most popular screening tests for diagnosing infections [5, 13] with ELISAs the most commonly used serological assays for detecting M. pulmonis infections [5, 13, 15]. To date, purified organisms have generally been used as antigens in serological tests for detecting antibodies against M. pulmonis [11].…”

A Broadly Reactive One-Step SYBR Green I Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Murine Norovirus

“…Thereafter, many MNV strains have been detected and/or isolated from laboratory mice and wild rodents [2]–[6]. Today, MNV is recognized as the most prevalent infectious agent in laboratory mouse colonies worldwide [7]–[12]. MNV shows considerable genetic diversity, which influences infectivity and virulence [13]–[16].…”