Mice or rats who consistently chew or shred chow; this behavior causes the bottom of the cage floor to be filled with excessive amounts of food dust and/or chunks.
Food Chewer
Foot Rot
A colloquial term for infection of the skin between the digits that may extend to the hoof wall. Foot rot is caused by coinfection with two bacteria, Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum, and is a common cause of lameness in sheep.
Found Animal
Any mouse or rat found loose, or found in unlabeled cages within procedure or cage wash areas.
Frit
Mesh circular filter on each medium and large fish tank; keeps fish in tank while water and waste flow out; available in 3 different sizes.
Fuel
Many materials commonly used during animal use procedures are combustible. Some examples include endotracheal tubes, eye lubricants, towels, drapes, dressings, gauze, sponges, whiskers, skin, and fur.
Fur Mites
Myocoptes musculinis, Myobia musculi, Radfordia affinis, and Radfordia ensifera are different species of fur mites that can infest rodents.
Gassing Phase
Second Phase of a cycle during which VHP is expelled in the room. Length of this phase is based on room dimensions.
Gavage
Administration of substances via a tube that is passed through the nose or mouth into the esophagus or stomach.
Genotyping
The process through which an animal's genetic make-up is determined using a sample taken from the animal.
Germ-Free Animals
Animals that have no microorganisms living in or on them and are raised within germ-free isolators in order to control their exposure to viral, bacterial, or parasitic agents.
GP 100
A multi-purpose detergent and degreaser used to clean large animal pens and cage wash room floors. Use with orange foamer tip or power washer.
Grain Mite
An arachnid with pale, grayish-white body with yellowish to reddish brown legs; soft-bodied and wingless with eight legs. Appear as tiny light white or beige specks on food bags; movement can be detected if observed closely.
Gravity or Prevac Cycle
The autoclave cycle used for solid or dry items ONLY (e.g., not for use with liquids).
Green or Clean Rooms
Animal rooms clean from any contaminants such as MPV, Pinworm, Orf, Q-Fever etc.
Grit
Sand or bits of crushed rock that chickens eat and store in their crop for proper digestion of food.
Harem
Alternative breeding strategy in which three to four adult females are co-housed with one adult male resulting in multiple pregnancies. All but one female must be removed from the cage prior to the birth of any pups. Justification to house two adult females, one adult male, and two litters in the cage as described by the definition of trio birthing may be submitted to the IACUC. Singly housed pregnant females or stud males should be labeled with a blue tab as described in the Identifying Single Housed Animals SOP.
Hazardous Chemical
A chemical for which there is evidence that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees. Examples include carcinogens, teratogens, and corrosives.
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous Materials are those materials that constitute a hazard to humans or the environment. The Policy on the Use of Hazardous Materials in Animal Activities applies to the specific hazardous materials listed below when used in conjunction with vertebrate animals:
- Biological agents requiring handling conditions above Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1).
- Biological agents requiring animals to be housed in conditions above Animal Biosafety Level 1 (ABSL-1).
- Biological specimens (e.g., saliva, blood, and urine) collected from humans or non-human primates.
- Biological toxins (e.g., Botulinum toxin including cosmetic BOTOX).
- Activities involving non-exempt recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules technology (rDNA techniques).
- HHS and USDA Select Agents and Toxins, as defined in Federal Regulations 7 CFR 331, 9 CFR 121, and 42 CFR 73. The current list is available at https://www.selectagents.gov/SelectAgentsandToxinsList.html.
- Activities involving any radiation producing equipment or materials including ionizing, non-ionizing, x-rays, and lasers.
- Chemicals designated by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as hazardous drugs, carcinogens, reproductive hazards, nanoparticles, or toxic chemicals, as well as materials that may have serious impact on the environment during release or disposal that are used in conjunction with animals.
Hazardous Waste Label
Used to label hazardous waste containers. Records hazards contained within the container.
Hazardous Waste Stickers
Stickers used on bins holding chemical waste, including sharps, that have been exposed to Animal Biosafety Level 2 chemicals.
HDS
Human-derived substance(s).
Health Report
A set of test results obtained from routine quarterly sentinel testing.
Health/Group Health Record
A record maintained by investigative personnel detailing the care and management (treatments, monitoring, etc.) of a health condition that is performed by the laboratory personnel under the direction of the ULAM veterinary staff.
A single record can be used for multiple animals (a group health record) if:
- All animals are being treated/monitored in the same way and for the same condition, and
- The animals are housed together in one cage and share a single clinical number.
- Components of a health/group health record include:
- Identification of the animal(s)
- Clinical observations/monitoring
- Treatment information
- Drug
- Dose
- Route
- Time/frequency given
- Date and initial all entries
Healthy Pup
A young animal that is bright, alert, responsive, hydrated, and otherwise does not appear sick.
Heat Lamps
Infrared bulb used as a heat source that can NOT be Teflon coated due to toxicity.
HEPA Filter
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters remove 99.97% of all particles 0.3 μm in size.
Hypnosis
Artificially induced sleep induced by central nervous system (CNS) depression.
Identification
The process of uniquely marking an animal so it can be differentiated from other animals within a group.
Ignition Source
Some examples of ignition sources include fiber optic light sources, defibrillators, drills, burs, surgical lasers, electrosurgical equipment, and electrocautery equipment.
IM
Intramuscular.
Immersion
A method of delivering drugs via direct contact with the skin in a bath.
Immunologic Adjuvant
Agents that non-specifically increase immune responses to specific antigens that are weakly immunogenic.
Import Quarantine (IQ)
Standard ten-week quarantine procedures.
Inactive Case
Those involving animals that are no longer being treated and/or monitored. Cases become inactive when:
- A clinical condition is resolved by the veterinary staff.
- The animal is euthanized or un-enrolled from study.
- The animal is transferred to another laboratory or institution.
Inappetence
Loss or lack of appetite.
Individually Housed
Describes primates housed without tactile contact to another primate. Still has visual and olfactory contact with other primates.
Induration
Localized hardening of the soft tissue of the body.
Infectious / Chemical Agent Form
Form that describes the infectious or chemical hazard for each investigator, located in a binder within the containment housing or procedure room.
Infectious Agent (Biologic Agent)
A live organism (e.g. virus, bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, parasite) capable of causing disease in humans/animals, human/animal tissue (normal or diseased) including all human-derived substances.
Infusion
Administration of a substance over time. Time intervals may be drug- or diluent-specific, or based on veterinary recommendation.