Now 2006A0097/2003A0073 Samonella Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance
Pain Code 2E with 750 mice approved for use in this protocol.
And in 2006 the addition of 60 rats and 4,500 mice.

Feb. 6, 2004 ILACUC approves an additional 750 mice to allow infection analysis of a different bacterial pathogen.

2003A0074 Development of a Single Oral Vaccine Against Food-borne Pathogens
Pain Code 2E with 300 mice approved for use in this protocol.

Now 2006A0114/2003A0077 An Oral Vaccine Against Multiple Biologic Agents
Pain Code 3E with 320 mice and 220 guinea pigs approved for use in this protocol.
And in 2006 the addition of another 4,500 mice.

Depending upon the protocol animals will be infected with various agents Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), or Francisella tularensis (tularemia-rabbit fever).

The protocols are basically the same with variables being the agents used to challenge the animals.

Background

from John S. Gunn grant abstract: Salmonella Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance (2R01AI043521-07A) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - $31,506 from 6/01/2003 to 6/30/2004.

Salmonellae are facultative intracellular pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Infections by these organisms result in a spectrum of diseases including enteric (typhoid) fever, gastroenteritis and bacteremias. These infections are more common and severe in infants and the elderly, as well as immunosuppressed individuals, including those with AIDS. Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections are often associated with contaminated food, including frequent egg-related outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis. Salmonella typhimurium infection of mice causes a similar illness to, and is a model for, Salmonella typhi infection of humans.

This grant began at the University of Texas in 1998 and transferred to OSU.

Pain and Distress

Sick mice that are not very mobile will be provided food pellets in the cage, and the mice will not be disturbed to avoid further pain. However, none of the animals can be treated because the only reliable method to determine bacterial strain virulence in mouse death as an endpoint. Illness is not sufficient as some mice can become sick and recover. These mice generally do not exhibit all of the symptoms of mouse typhoid fever, or the symptoms are not as severe. For example, a mouse may be observed to have scruffy fur, and maybe slightly closed eyes, but still be mobile and consuming food and water. This mouse is not clearly moribund. I have never seen a mouse recover that, for a period of 6-12 hrs., is hunched with eyes shut, not moving, and not eating or drinking. This mouse is clearly moribund.

Treatment of the animals with any substances to relieve pain or distress could alter the development of mouse typhoid fever and skew the results. This sort of action would result in the necessity to involve additional mice in the study to achieve statistical significance, and we certainly do not want to use more mice than absolutely necessary.

After inoculation, mice are permitted to survive for 4-10 days. This experimental model is widely used by investigators studying the infectious agents virulence and vaccine development. Animals will be monitored every 4-8 hours upon showing signs of illness. If mice are found dead, they will be promptly removed from the cage. Animals judged to be clearly moribund will be euthanized to alleviate pain and suffering.