Mission and Description

The University of Tennessee, Memphis animal resources are comprised of 75,000 gross assigned sq. ft. in 4 buildings located on the UT-Memphis campus. The entire centralized animal care program at the University was fully accredited by the Association for Accreditation and Assessment of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) in July, 1993. Consolidation efforts were completed with the opening of three new animal facilities; Nash, Wittenborg and Molecular Sciences in 1991. Suitable housing facilities are available for a wide variety of animal species, including the usual laboratory animals, and also sheep, goats, swine, chickens, geese, ducks.

The facilities include a variety of dual purpose animal rooms. Animals are housed separately by species and, when possible, by source and or microbiological status. Specialized animal housing spaces include a quarantine suite, infectious biohazard containment suites, a radioisotope suite and HEPA filtered mass air displacement clean rooms. The Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) is administratively responsible for all animal care resources and the purchase and care of all animals on the UT-Memphis campus. A close relationship exists with the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis for which DCM supplies veterinary coverage. DCM has a staff of veterinarians, AALAS certified technicians and support staff, including full time faculty veterinarians, affiliated, adjunct and part time veterinarians, and post doctoral veterinarians. Many of the DCM animal technicians are certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), up to the highest level, Laboratory Animal Technologist.

DCM operates a clinical pathology laboratory for the purpose of basic disease surveillance and diagnosis as well as serving as a research resource to investigators. The laboratory capabilities include parasitology, clinical chemistry, and serology. Special services provided by the DCM include surgery facilities and assistance, post-surgical care, radiology, including x-ray and ultrasound, necropsies, blood banking and a wide variety of technical services. The department has a resident post doctoral graduate program for the purpose of educating veterinarians in laboratory animal medicine and preparing them for eventual boarded/diplomate status in ACLAM. Other academic functions include full investigator training on request, AALAS technician training and compliance/consultative roles in animal research protocol design.

The Department of Comparative Medicine has the responsibility for the veterinary support of animal research in the broadest sense of the definition. This includes aspects of direct animal care, technical and veterinary assistance, interaction with the Animal Care and Use Committee, and consultation and training of investigators, etc. in the use of animals. Service and academic functions are closely integrated with its consultative role, training requirement, AALAS technical program, and postdoctoral residency training leading to ACLAM diplomate status.

All rodent colonies in the AAALAC accredited program of the University of Tennessee, Memphis are housed and maintained under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Sentinel animals are tested monthly for antibodies to coronavirus (MHV or SDA), Sendai virus, and Mycoplasma pulmonis by the Immunocomb method. Approximately twice a year, representative sentinels (rats and mice) from the colonies are necropsied and examined for internal and external parasites. Serum from these animals is sent to Charles River Laboratories for more extensive serologic testing (mouse tracking profile: SEN, PVM, MHV, MVM, GD-VII, REO-3, MPUL, MPV; rat tracking profile: SEN, PVM, RCV/SDA, KRV, H-1, REO-3, MPUL, RPV). The last bi-yearly testing was performed in March of 2000; all sentinels were negative for these pathogens and internal/external parasites, except pinworms.

The specific pathogen free designation for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center rodent colonies is defined as follows:

All rodent colonies are tested negative for the following agents only:

Mouse

• MHV
• SEN
• MPUL
• PVM
• MVM
• GD-VII
• REO-3
• MPUL

Rat

• SEN
• PVM
• RCV/SDA
• KRV
• H-1
• REO-3
• MPUL
• RPV

Guinea Pig/Hamster

• Not Tested

Rodent colonies are tested and considered negative for the following agents:
Mouse

• Syphacia obvelata

Rat

• Syphacia obvelata

Guniea Pig/Hamster

• Not Tested

Rodent colonies are not tested for the following agents:

• Helicobacter bilis
• Helicobacter hepaticus
• LCMV
• HANT

If an animal care or use concern arises, the individual should discuss the situation with the appropriate individual as discussed below.

Issues related to the humane care and use of laboratory animals should be promptly brought to the attention of the South or North Campus Faculty Veterinarian (448-5656). Persons may also contact (anonymously, if they wish) the Chairman of Department of Comparative Medicine (448-5656) or the Chair IACUC (448-3904) if there are any concerns regarding the care and use of research animals at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Issues related to the experimental use of animals should be brought to the attention of the Principal Investigator (PI). If the issue cannot be discussed with the PI or the Attending Veterinarian, the Chairman of the Department of Comparative Medicine should be contacted.

Animal husbandry concerns should be discussed with the animal facility manager Mr. Mike Bassett (448-5656) when the incident occurred. If the concern is not resolved promptly or reoccurs, he should be contacted immediately. If the problem remains unresolved, contact the Department of Comparative Medicine Chair/ Laboratory Animal Care Unit Director.