Bacteriology Reporting Update

Routinely collected respiratory and enteric samples are screened for the listed microorganisms below which comprise both primary and opportunistic pathogens of laboratory animals. Some of these organisms comprise low-level opportunists which are widely considered commensal bacteria and their presence in the normal flora of a healthy laboratory rodent is often of little significance.

Our bacteriology culture procedures are capable of detecting many additional non-pathogenic and opportunistic organisms (e.g. Escherichia coli, Proteus species (not P.mirabilis), Enterobacteriaece) which will not be reported on unless they appear at a high level of growth or as a pure culture. Disease Investigation cases are the exception to this rule.

This approach to reporting is in line with FELASA recommendations as well as the approach taken by leading international health monitoring laboratories such as Charles River Laboratories, IDEXX RADIL and Harlan. Please do not hesitate to contact the lab if you have any questions or concerns with this new approach.

Table of primary & opportunistic pathogens of rodents. Presence will be reported regardless of numbers.