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RESEARCH COMPLIANCE

Is it permissible to purchase lab animals from local vendors?

Reader Question: A local farmer offered to sell me rabbits for our lab. Are we allowed to buy from a local person?

Expert Comments:

The simple answer is No.

First and foremost, rabbits are among those animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), certain provisions of which apply to individuals who sell and/or transport animals for use in research. So, just from the standpoint of the AWA, buying from that vendor probably is not a viable option.

But there are other considerations as well.

From a veterinary standpoint, animals used in research, including rabbits, typically are specific-pathogen free (SPF) animals. This means that they are free from certain select pathogens for that species. The select viruses, bacteria, or parasites may or may not cause clinical disease in that animal. Often these pathogens are chosen to be excluded because of their subclinical effects on the animals, such as altering the immune response or modulating the animal’s propensity to develop cancer.

Additionally, there are some pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans that also are chosen to be excluded in the interest of preserving the health of the research personnel interacting with the animals.

Rabbits that are not obtained from a properly licensed commercial vendor, such as those offered by your local farmer, likely are not SPF and may have any number of pathogens that your institution considers “excluded pathogens.”

The pathogen on top of the exclusion list for rabbits is Pasteurella multocida (aka “snuffles”). This is a ubiquitous bacterium that causes a multitude of clinical syndromes in rabbits, including nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, inner-ear infections, pneumonia, abscess formation, genital infections, and even sudden death. It is present in almost all rabbits outside those bred SPF for research purposes. If this organism were to be introduced into a research colony, an epizootic resulting in a significant mortality rate would be the likely result. Therefore, bringing in animals from a local vendor could put your existing rabbit population at serious risk.

Here are other reasons you should use approved commercial vendors when acquiring rabbits and other laboratory animals:

• Minimizing the incidence of genetic abnormalities
• Potential for replacement/reimbursement if an animal is sick or otherwise compromised upon arrival
• Consistent supply of animals at a certain age/size
• Decreased variance with regard to environment and genetic background.

Overall, while it may be attractive from a financial standpoint to purchase rabbits from your local farmer, it is not generally recommended, nor even permitted, at many research institutions. And, from a research standpoint, utilizing an approved commercial vendor ensures a healthier subject and, ultimately, better science.

Comments by Laura Gallaugher, DVM, assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine and clinical veterinarian for University Laboratory Animal Resources, The Ohio State University.