Boston University is committed to observing federal and AAALAC international guidelines for the humane care and use of animals.
Transporting animals causes them stress, which is not always adverse, but does causes temporary physiological status changes during and after transportation. Using recently transported animals before their physiological statuses return to normal can have unintended effects on research results. Boston University’s established acclimation procedures prevent transportation stress from confounding research data.
BU has different established acclimation procedures for rodents and for large animals.
Large animals acquired from approved vendors with defined health profiles may not require quarantine, but “newly received animals should be given a period for physiologic, psychologic, and nutritional stabilization before their use. The length of time for stabilization will depend upon the type and duration of animal transportation, the species involved, and the intended use of the animals.”2 This policy does not address quarantine. This policy does not address acclimation of nonhuman primates (NHP).
References
Jennifer A. Obernier and Ransom L. Baldwin, 2007. Establishing an Appropriate Period of Acclimatization Following Transportation of Laboratory Animals. ILAR Journal 47(4).
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. NCR ILAR 1996, P.58.
Definitions, Policies, and Procedures
Shipping Stress
Stress associated with being removed from a familiar background and surroundings and being exposed to numerous new experiences, including shipping crate, different food, noise and temperature variations, and means of transportation.
Acclimation
Or acclimatization:
Becoming accustomed to new housing, food, water, handlers, cage-mates, noises, smells, light cycle, and other variables and regaining homeostasis.
Physiological adjustment of an organism to environmental change (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.).
USDA-Regulated Large Animal Species
Includes rabbits, cats, swine, and ferrets and may include other large animal species.
Non-human primates require longer acclimation, quarantine, and special procedures and are treated in a separate policy.
Transportation
Transportation refers to transportation from a vendor or from other institutions or campuses, including intracity, intercity, intrastate, interstate, or international and involves truck and/or air transport. This policy does not address intercampus transport.