Monitoring of small laboratory animal experiments by a designated web-based database

Abstract

Multiple-parametric small animal experiments require, by their very nature, a sufficient number of animals which may need to be large to obtain statistically significant results.(1) For this reason database-related systems are required to collect the experimental data as well as to support the later (re-) analysis of the information gained during the experiments. In particular, the monitoring of animal welfare is simplified by the inclusion of warning signals (for instance, loss in body weight >20%). Digital patient charts have been developed for human patients but are usually not able to fulfill the specific needs of animal experimentation. To address this problem a unique web-based monitoring system using standard MySQL, PHP, and nginx has been created. PHP was used to create the HTML-based user interface and outputs in a variety of proprietary file formats, namely portable document format (PDF) or spreadsheet files. This article demonstrates its fundamental features and the easy and secure access it offers to the data from any place using a web browser. This information will help other researchers create their own individual databases in a similar way. The use of QR-codes plays an important role for stress-free use of the database. We demonstrate a way to easily identify all animals and samples and data collected during the experiments. Specific ways to record animal irradiations and chemotherapy applications are shown. This new analysis tool allows the effective and detailed analysis of huge amounts of data collected through small animal experiments. It supports proper statistical evaluation of the data and provides excellent retrievable data storage.

A REDCap application that links researchers, animal facility staff and members of the IACUC in animal health monitoring

“…The inclusion of a warning signal in their system alerts researchers and prevents procedural errors during experiments, such as treatment overdoses, or the identification of animals in critical conditions that require supportive therapies. This system is used primarily by researchers to facilitate the collection of experimental data and manage animal welfare, 19 excluding the participation of animal care staff and IACUC members.…”

“…3 However, most of these systems focus on facilitating animal production processes, collecting and analyzing experimental data, and the commercial activity of animal facilities. [16][17][18][19] Current systems do little to enable collaboration with regard to the research and welfare of experimental animals. A web-based system aimed at academic/non-profit institutions that links and facilitates joint work between animal facility staff, IACUC, and researchers for animal welfare assessment is not yet available.…”

A simple and inexpensive way to document simple husbandry in animal care facilities using QR code scanning

“…QR scanning has recently been used as a platform to allow communication between pet owners and veterinarians, 4 and for a web-based monitoring system that mimics human patient digital charts, as has recently been described. 5 These platforms were programmed with standard MySQL, PHP, and nginx environments. However the system developed by Freznel et al 5 took a skilled individual one year to develop and deploy.…”

“…5 These platforms were programmed with standard MySQL, PHP, and nginx environments. However the system developed by Freznel et al 5 took a skilled individual one year to develop and deploy. The system described in our study can be deployed in a few hours by an individual with no programming skills.…”