Animal House Services

1. The Animal House Laboratory operates as a laboratory facility according to the concepts and operating procedures in the Laboratory Animals Manual and Use Publication, Eighth Edition.
2. The following principles should be applied to the use and care of vertebrate animals used in testing and research as follows:

• The transport, care and use of animals should be in accordance with the publication of the Laboratory Animal Usage and Care Manual Edition VIII.
• Actions related to animals must be designed and implemented taking into account their significance to human or animal health.
• The animals selected for a procedure must be of the right choice, the right quality and the minimum number required obtaining the correct results.
• Proper use of animals, including avoiding or minimizing stress, distress and pain in the animal.
• If the procedures with animals may cause pain or distress, they should be performed with the use of an analgesic or appropriate anesthesia.
• Surgical or other painful procedures should not be performed on animals without anesthesia.
• Animals that would have suffered severe pain and the pain cannot be relieved should be euthanized at the end of the procedure or during it if possible.
• The living conditions of animals should be appropriate for their species and contribute to their health and comfort.
• Housing, feeding and care for all animals used for medical purposes must be directed by a veterinarian.
• Experimenters must be qualified and experienced to perform procedures on live animals.

Appropriate arrangements should be made for their job training, including appropriate and humane care for the use of laboratory animals

First: Acquisition of animals:

1. The number of animals and their suitability for experimentation.
2. Avoid pain, stress and distress for the animals to be tested on.
3. In the event of procedures that cause more than temporary, mild distress or pain to animals, sedatives, analgesics or appropriate anesthesia should be used.
4. Animals are humanely euthanized after the completion of the experiment.
5. In the event that animals come from outside the institute, they must be quarantined for a period (not less than 5-7 days) to ensure their health condition.

Second: Animal Housing

1. Making a veterinary quarantine for animals coming from outside the institute for a period (not less than 5-7 days).
2. Setting standards related to the space required for each animal in the event that the animals are found in very small cages or exceed their sizes in the cages that are considered suitable upon arrival; they are transferred to units of appropriate sizes.
3. It is not recommended to use animal rooms for purposes other than housing animals due to the potential hazardous effects on other animals.
4. The room used for experiments is available at the time specified for the start of the experiment and this room is clean and sanitized when used, as well as clean and sanitized before leaving.
5. The operating room is also available at the scheduled time for the operation and is clean and sanitized when used and also before leaving.
6. Smoking and eating are not allowed in any of the animal rooms.

Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans. There are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of infection in general. These include not eating, drinking or wearing cosmetics or contact lenses around animals or animal care areas, wearing gloves when handling animals, taking tissue and fluid samples, not accidentally rubbing your face with contaminated hands or gloves, and washing hands after each contact with the animal.
Third: Occupational Health and Safety Program – Ensure that protective clothing (such as face masks, gloves and Lab. vest) is always worn when handling animals. – Blood analysis annually. – Perform a urine analysis annually. – Immunization against tetanus.
Fourth: Selling and hosting service for experimental animals

1. For employees within the Institute:

• An application for purchasing or hosting of experimental animals is completed in the name of the researcher, his ID card number and his phone, addressing the supervisor of the Laboratory Animal House and determining the duration of the research and the purpose of use with a copy of the research protocol and the approval of the Animal Ethics Committee, then the request is submitted to the head of the institute for approval.
• Buying and selling is applied in accordance with the pricing regulations approved by the Board of Institute Directors.
• A cash supply permit is made for the Institute’s accounts with the value of the number of animals, their weight and the duration of hosting, and the money is paid by visa card.

2. For sale outside the institute:

• An application for the purchase or hosting of experimental animals is completed in the name of the purchaser and his ID card number, addressing the supervisor of the Laboratory Animal House, then the application is submitted to the head of the institute for approval.
• Make an exit permit with the number of animals with a copy of the payment invoice.

Fifth: Animal Care:

1. Daily cage cleaning, feeding and watering daily with routine washing and sterilization of the cage; providing clean gourmets and routine cleaning of rooms; and treating naturally occurring diseases.
2. Any sick or injured animal should be humanely provided with veterinary care or culled.
3. If euthanasia is done using ether, under no circumstances the carcasses should be placed in a cool room before the smell of ether in the lid disappears, and an animal should not be disposed of until it is confirmed dead.
4. After the completion of the research project on animals, all animal carcasses or animal parts that are no longer needed should be placed in a plastic bag (red) and deposited in the cold room and then disposed of the animal carcasses.

Sixth: Special services provided by the Laboratory Animal House

1. Production and supply of rats, mice and rabbits to various research bodies to contribute to the development of scientific research in accordance with international standards.
2. Supply of animals to various practical faculties necessary for practical lessons for students.
3. Providing a special place to conduct scientific research where the researcher buys experimental animals and then puts them in the clean room and the animal house provides the researcher with the necessary cleanliness, care and nutrition for his experimental animals for a representative payment.
4. Hosting and maintenance of animals with the possibility of reviewing the scientific research protocol with the scientific team of the laboratory and considering matters such as:

• Animals suitable for experimental design.
• Animal resources and equipment.
• Post-mortem results.
• Unusual environmental requirements.
• Special diets and care.
• Pre- and post-operative care.

Seventh: Animal hazards and animal diseases The risks associated with handling animals are classified into three categories:

• Physical injuries occur from bites or scratches (rodents, rabbits). Prevention of these types of injuries by appropriate training for research staff by animal welfare staff or other qualified personnel.
• There are serious allergic risks associated with breathing or contact with allergens such as animal fur or urine. Prevention by avoiding direct exposure with the animal by always wearing protective clothing (such as face masks, gloves and a lab. vest) when handling animals.