Allergy to laboratory mice and rats: a review of its prevention, management, and treatment

Abstract

SummaryAllergy to laboratory animals is reviewed from a management point of view. Personnel issues, medical therapy, legal aspects, animal house environments and work routines are discussed. Modern methods of medical treatment are presented but it is recommended that environmental control should be given priority over drugs. Several ventilation and building design systems are reviewed from an ALA viewpoint. New technology (including down-ventilated benches, ventilated cages) is reviewed and possible effectiveness analysed. These systems, though potentially of value, lack adequate testing under clinical conditions. We conclude that there are many c1inicaHyuntested techniques that remain to be proven and whose efficacy has not been documented.

Controlling Exposure to Laboratory Animal Allergens

“…Clean air, which is supplied by a central duct in the room, flows through holes in the curtain, moves across the animal racks, and is exhausted at the ceiling within the curtained module. This type of system has been demonstrated to be effective in several studies, in which it reduced airborne particulate levels by as much as 95% (Hunskaar and Fosse 1993;Lindqvist et al 1996;Yamauchi et al 1989). The concept of a central soffit system, or air capture and containment system, depicted in Figure 4, is to optimize the capture of warmer contaminated air at the ceiling and reduce air recirculation (Hughes and Reynolds 1997;Hughes et al 1996).…”

“…This type of respirator can significantly reduce inhalation exposure, but it leaves the eyes unprotected. Full-face air purifying respirators fitted with HEPA filters can be effective for reducing exposure; however, they are more appropriate for specific high-exposure tasks as opposed to full-shift work due to comfort (Hunskaar and Fosse 1993;Seward 1999).…”

Guidelines for the Use and Care of Small Laboratory Animals in Transplantation Research

“…Aspects of biosafety will even increase in importance when xenotransplantation becomes introduced as clinical application, and transmission of known or unknown pathogens to human patients may occur. Currently the risk to employees of developing allergy to laboratory animals is even higher than the risk of zoonotic diseases [18,19]. To ensure both animal quality and personal safety against biological hazards several barrier facility systems and production techniques have been developed to produce rode"hts free of unwanted micro-organisms and to reduce direct contact between animals and employees.…”

Ergonomonic Considerations and Allergen Management

“…Without proper management of allergens, a range of 10-40 percent of persons working in the animal research facility may develop LAA ( Fisher et al ., 1998 ;Bush and Stave, 2003 ), with the most vulnerable group being animal-care technicians ( Elliott et al ., 2005 ). Many of the symptoms of LAA are irritating, distracting or fatiguing, and are expressed in the form of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (sneezing, itchy eyes, runny noses) and contact hypersensitivity (skin rashes) ( Pacheco, 2007 ) although, most seriously, about 10 percent of cases may culminate in asthma ( Hunskaar and Fosse, 1993 ). Systemic treatment of symptomatic individuals add personal or institutional medical expense and, depending upon medication, can have annoying effects, impairing worker alertness and productivity ( Berger, 1999 ) as well.…”