Importing Non-Commercial Source Rodents
Prior to shipment of animals from Non-Commercial Source:
Non-Commercial sources are institutions other than approved commercial vendors that sell rodents commercially. Non-commercial sources typically include other universities, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, etc.. Please contact the ARC Veterinary Staff if you have any questions about the source you would like to receive rodents from, or about the following import process.
- Contact the ARC office at 650-7592 to complete an Animal Requisition Form and obtain an AR number. This number is needed to complete the Non-Commercial Source Rodent - Import Request Form described below. The AR number is NOT authorization to have these animals shipped to Dartmouth.
- Download and complete a Non-Commercial Source Rodent - Import Request Form (word). This form should be transmitted electronically, or in hard copy, to the non-commercial source where these rodents are located. The veterinarian or shipping coordinator at the non-commercial source vendor should complete the applicable sections of the form and return it to the ARC Laboratory Animal Technologist who handles import/export requests. This form provides information required by the ARC Veterinary Staff to evaluate the health status of animals to determine if we can receive these animals into quarantine at Dartmouth. This information will also be used to determine type and location of housing, and any additional testing that may be required.
- You will receive notification from the ARC Laboratory Animal Technologist or Veterinary Staff when approval to import has been granted. The ARC will also coordinate shipping dates, carriers, etc., with the importing vivarium personnel.
Once the rodents have arrived at Dartmouth:
Animals that are virus antibody free, internal and external parasite free, and free of significant bacterial pathogens:
The animals will be received and quarantined on Tecniplast ventilated racks with Edstrom automated watering within the quarantine suite at Borwell for a minimum of 6 weeks. During quarantine dirty bedding from the animals under quarantine is placed into the sentinel cages at each cage change, or sometimes more frequently. In addition, animals under quarantine are fed diet containing Fenbendazone (anthelmentic), and are provided Mite Arrest cotton balls impregnated with Pyrethrin (antiparasitic) that are used for nesting. The Fenbendazole diet helps prevent pinworm entry into our colonies. The Mite Arrest is used to control external parasites such as mites or lice.
Prior to release from quarantine the health status of the animals will be verified by serologic testing, and parasitology, of: 1) animals from the colony (previously identified as sentinels), or 2) VAF animals ordered from a commercial source to be used as sentinels. These sentinels are billed to the investigator that imported the mice.
Use of these animals during quarantine is possible provided that appropriate entry precautions are taken. It is, however, generally not recommended to use these animals for research or breeding during quarantine to avoid potential spread of infectious agents, and to minimize length of required quarantine if a viral agent is detected. Animals may not leave the quarantine suite to be taken to the lab until health status is cleared.
Animals that are non VAF, or are positive for internal or external parasites, or significant bacterial pathogens.
These animals will need to be rederived and tested clean prior to importing to Dartmouth College. These services are available at a number of commercial vendors. Please contact the ARC Veterinary Staff if you are interested in obtaining these services.