“…Whilst the frequency of entanglement did not increase over time during the trial period, it is possible that this may still have contributed to the incidences of tangling which were recorded in this group. This finding is consistent with studies which suggest that material that is long and fibrous, or can be manipulated into becoming so, poses a risk of injury through entanglement (Rowson and Michaels, 1980; Northrup et al., 2012). Fig.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Rowson and Michaels (1980) found that it is important to avoid the use of materials such as cotton wool, as these have a tendency to become entangled around the tails and bodies of young mice and cause injury. Similarly, Northrup et al. (2012) also reported multiple incidences of both neonates and adults becoming caught in fibrous nesting material, with injuries incurred being severe enough to warrant immediate euthanasia.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…There was a total of 10 incidences observed over the 14 day period ranging in severity from 1 to 3 (5 Minor, 2 Moderate and 3 Severe). However, Northrup et al. (2012) found that the pitfalls of nesting materials only became apparent during its use on a large scale, as compared to small scale with low numbers of mice.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, there is limited information in the literature as to its apparent safety. Northrup et al. (2012) found that fibrous nesting material had the potential to become entangled around a mouse's limb, sometimes causing severe injury and resulting in euthanasia.…”
Nesting material, for example shredded paper, is a common form of enrichment for laboratory mice. However, there has been limited research performed regarding its apparent safety when given to mice fitted with exteriorised devices such as head plates. Anecdotally, shredded paper has been deemed unsafe for use with such animals due to frequently observed entanglement. This study assessed the safety of four nesting materials (Pure Comfort White, Rodent Roll, Short Paper Shavings and Facial Tissue) to identify a suitable alternative to shredded paper. The four nesting materials were each tested on 5 head plate mice over a 14-day period. The quality of the nests produced was scored throughout the trial period and incidences of tangling monitored. Tangling was only observed in the Facial Tissue group, and the highest quality nest scores were recorded in the Pure Comfort White group. As shredded paper has been anecdotally alleged to cause entanglement, Pure Comfort White, Rodent Roll and Short Paper Shavings may present more suitable options, given that their use did not result in any incidences of tangling throughout this trial. Pure Comfort White was concluded to be the safest and most suitable nesting material for head plate mice as it produced nests of high quality while reducing the risk of entanglement.
“…Whilst the frequency of entanglement did not increase over time during the trial period, it is possible that this may still have contributed to the incidences of tangling which were recorded in this group. This finding is consistent with studies which suggest that material that is long and fibrous, or can be manipulated into becoming so, poses a risk of injury through entanglement (Rowson and Michaels, 1980; Northrup et al., 2012). Fig.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Rowson and Michaels (1980) found that it is important to avoid the use of materials such as cotton wool, as these have a tendency to become entangled around the tails and bodies of young mice and cause injury. Similarly, Northrup et al. (2012) also reported multiple incidences of both neonates and adults becoming caught in fibrous nesting material, with injuries incurred being severe enough to warrant immediate euthanasia.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…There was a total of 10 incidences observed over the 14 day period ranging in severity from 1 to 3 (5 Minor, 2 Moderate and 3 Severe). However, Northrup et al. (2012) found that the pitfalls of nesting materials only became apparent during its use on a large scale, as compared to small scale with low numbers of mice.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, there is limited information in the literature as to its apparent safety. Northrup et al. (2012) found that fibrous nesting material had the potential to become entangled around a mouse's limb, sometimes causing severe injury and resulting in euthanasia.…”
Nesting material, for example shredded paper, is a common form of enrichment for laboratory mice. However, there has been limited research performed regarding its apparent safety when given to mice fitted with exteriorised devices such as head plates. Anecdotally, shredded paper has been deemed unsafe for use with such animals due to frequently observed entanglement. This study assessed the safety of four nesting materials (Pure Comfort White, Rodent Roll, Short Paper Shavings and Facial Tissue) to identify a suitable alternative to shredded paper. The four nesting materials were each tested on 5 head plate mice over a 14-day period. The quality of the nests produced was scored throughout the trial period and incidences of tangling monitored. Tangling was only observed in the Facial Tissue group, and the highest quality nest scores were recorded in the Pure Comfort White group. As shredded paper has been anecdotally alleged to cause entanglement, Pure Comfort White, Rodent Roll and Short Paper Shavings may present more suitable options, given that their use did not result in any incidences of tangling throughout this trial. Pure Comfort White was concluded to be the safest and most suitable nesting material for head plate mice as it produced nests of high quality while reducing the risk of entanglement.
“…For example, paper tissues have been identified as inappropriate enrichment for mice used in asthma studies, because the cellulose fibres of these tissues contribute to inflammatory reactions of the lungs [ 137 ]. In another case, fibrous nesting material was noted as causing injury to mice [ 138 ]. Therefore, even for widely endorsed forms of enrichment such as nesting material, some options will be better than others and approaches may need to be altered depending on context.…”
Environmental enrichment has been widely studied in rodents, but there is no consensus on what enrichment should look like or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment, which may slow housing improvements for laboratory animals. Many review articles have addressed environmental enrichment for laboratory rats and mice (Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus). We conducted a metareview of 29 review articles to assess how enrichment has been defined and what are commonly described as its goals or requirements. Recommendations from each article were summarised to illustrate the conditions generally considered suitable for laboratory rodents. While there is no consensus on alternative terminology, many articles acknowledged that the blanket use of the terms “enriched” and “enrichment” should be avoided. Environmental enrichment was most often conceptualised as a method to increase natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. Authors also commonly outlined perceived risks and requirements of environmental enrichment. We discuss these perceptions, make suggestions for future research, and advocate for the adoption of more specific and value-neutral terminology.
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