Rodent quarantine is a required process practiced as a measure of disease prevention for all rodents entering UAB animal colonies from non-approved sources or for any rodent deemed to be a health risk.

Standard Quarantine

• Rodent quarantine lasts approximately 8-10 weeks.
• Animals are placed in a restricted access room upon arrival.
• As a preventive measure, all animals are treated for internal and external parasites with fenbendazole and dichlorvos, respectively for the entire qurantine period.
• Controlled breeding and genotyping are allowed to occur during the quarantine period as long as it is listed in the investigator's protocol.
• Procedures other than breeding and genotyping are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be listed in the investigator's protocol.
• Shortly after arrival, fecal samples are retrieved for pcr testing for Helciobacter and MNV (mice only).
• Cross-fostering is available for those wishing to rid their animals from Helicobacter, MNV or other agents prior to the animals being released from quarantine. 
• Animals are quarantined in locations based on their health data and the size of the shipment.
  

Sentinel animals are placed with the imported shipment and exposed to the dirty bedding from the imported animals for 6 weeks.  After week six, a sentinel animal is removed and sent to Charles River for health assessment.  Typically, results are available 10-14 days after the sentinel has been submitted to Charles River.  Results are reviewed by an ARP veterinarian and then relayed to the investigator.  Animals are released to an animal room based on the health results.

Breeding During Quarantine
Breeding is allowed to occur during the quarantine period, but only after the animals have been acclimated to their new surroundings.  Due to space limitations only controlled breeding is allowed.  Investigators have three options to choose from in regards to breeding:

Breed imported animals to each other.

• Breed imported animals to animals ordered from an approved vendor such as Charles River, Jax, Taconic, Harlan, etc.
• Animals are ordered by the investigator and delivered to the quarantine room.
• Breed imported animals to animals from the investigator's animal room.  Animals are moved from the investigators room to the quarantine room. 

Cross-Fostering During Quarantine
Cross-fostering is available during the quarantine period to help rid animals of unwanted agents such as MNV or Helicobacter.  The cross-fostering process is discussed with the investigator prior to import, or shortly after import after the first fecal pcr test has been performed on the animals to see if they are positive for MNV and/or Helicobacter or any other agent that is to be eliminated from the imported animal(s). 

Time pregnant CD-1 foster mothers are ordered as needed so they are available when pups are born and subsequently transferred to her [foster mother].  The charge for the foster mother is billed to the investigator.

Fecal pcr testing is performed on the fostered pups at specific time points to confirm they are negative for the agent they have been fostered to rid.  Charges for pcr testing are billed to the investigator.

Expedited Quarantine
Expedited quarantine is available and is determined on a case-by-case basis based on the health data which was reviewed by the ARP veterinarian prior to import.  Once the health data has been reviewed, the ARP veterinarian will make a determination if the shipment qualifies for expedited quarantine or not.  The ARP will then inform the invetigator if their shipment qualifies or not and the estimated time frame the animals will be in quarantine.  Special health testing will occur at least once with the animals shortly after their arrival in quarantine.  Depending on the results of the testing, the animals will 1) be released from quarantine, 2) have additional health testing performed or 3) have their quarantine period extended.  As a preventive measure, all animals are treated for internal and external parasites with fenbendazole and dichlorvos, respectively for a period of 6 weeks after arriving at UAB.  Animals cannot be transferred or used in other cages on campus until the fenbendazole and dichlorvos treatments have been completed.

Bypassing Quarantine
It is possible for your shipment to bypass quarantine if they meet one or more of the following criteria.  Please note that this is not a complete list and bypassing quarantine is determined by the ARP veterinarian on a case-by-case basis.

• Animals will be used terminally immediately to 48 hours upon arrival (requires IACUC approval).
• Animals will be used terminally before the end of the standard quarantine period.
• No animals or any of their biological material will be introduced to the UAB animal colonies.
• Special health testing will occur with the imported animals as soon as they arrive at UAB or shorlty thereafter.

Special SOP's related to disinfecting will also be provided and discussed with the investigator and their lab poersonnel.

Accessing Animals During Quarantine
Imported animals are placed in a restricted access room for the quarantine period.  It is possible for you to acces the animals a limited number of times during the quaranitne period, but only with an escort by quarantine personnel.

Unnaceptable Quarantine Health Results
On rare occasion, health data from the quarantine health testing will come back with data that is deemed unacceptable and the animals will not be allowed to be released to the UAB animal colonies.  Depending on the agent(s) found in the health report, rederivation will most likely be the only method available to clean up the animals before they are released.  All reports are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the PI will be informed of the results by an ARP veterinarian along with a plan of action for cleaning up the animals.

Billing
All quarantine expenses, including health surveillance charges are billed to the UAB PI and charged to the account listed on the Import/Export Request Form.  Part of the health surveillance charges will include an export charge; this charge is related to the courier charges for sending sentinel animal(s) to Charles River for health surveillance.  Estimates relating to quarantine are available at the request of the UAB investigator.

Please contact animaltransfer@uab.edu for questions or clarification for information listed here.
For species other than rodent, please contact animaltransfer@uab.edu.