What are the usual types of laboratory animals in the animal laboratory? What are the basic requirements for the construction of an animal laboratory? Today’s article will answer these two questions in detail.

I. Types of animals in the animal laboratory

There are four main types of experimental animals in the animal laboratory, namely: ordinary animals, clean animals, animals without special pathogens, and sterile animals.

1. Ordinary animals: mainly refers to animals whose microorganisms are not under special control. There are two types of pathogens that need to be eliminated, namely human pathogens and a very small number of laboratory animal pathogens of severe infectious diseases. In order to prevent the emergence of infectious diseases, relevant measures should be taken during the feeding and reproduction stages of animals.

2. Clean animals: mainly refers to animals that need to exclude three types of pathogens, which are pathogens that co-exist with humans and animals, pathogens of major animal infectious diseases, pathogens that are harmful to animals and interfere with research.

3. Animals free of special pathogens: mainly refers to animals without specific microorganisms and parasites, but with non-specific microorganisms and parasites. To eliminate specific pathogens, air filter sterilization, triethylene glycol vapor spraying, and lithium chloride aqueous solution spraying can be used.

4. Sterile animals: mainly refers to animals whose bodies cannot detect any live microorganisms and parasites. Such animals must be raised in a sterile or as sterile environment as possible. We call this environment a barrier environment, which means that the polluted environment around the animal is separated by a barrier.

II. Basic requirements for the construction of animal laboratories

At present, the basic requirements for the construction of animal laboratories are mainly reflected in six aspects, namely: site selection, layout, construction, air conditioning system, lighting, and water supply.

1. Site selection: The animal laboratory should be built in a secluded and sanitary place.

2. Arrangement: Divided into three areas: preparation area, breeding area, and experimental area, and divide the flow of people, logistics, and animals.

3. Building: There must be clean corridors, breeding rooms, polluted corridors and other rooms.

4. Air conditioning system: temperature, humidity, air velocity and air distribution must be controllable, and there must be a certain amount of air exchange and air pressure.

5. Illumination: Consider the windowless and windowed animal rooms. The former should be equipped with fluorescent lamps, and the latter should be equipped with glass that filters out ultraviolet rays.

6. Water supply: The animal laboratory must do a good job in the design and installation of drinking water and pure water equipment.