title: Decontamination of a barrier facility using microisolator cages and provisional partitioning.
abstract: In 2000, the authors found endemic infections of mouse hepatitis virus, minute virus of mice, Syphacia obvelata, and Myobia musculi among mice in a large barrier facility at the University of Mainz. To eliminate the infections, they subdivided the facility into two distinct hygiene units. However, architectural constraints made it impossible to completely separate the HVAC systems of both hygiene units and to establish adequate personnel locks. To compensate for these suboptimal barrier conditions of the two newly established units, the authors replaced the open-top caging and open-servicing system with filter-top cages that were manipulated in cage-changing stations. The authors then depopulated the two units in series, independently eliminating the contaminated mice and restocking the units with SPF animals. In spite of the high infection pressure and the suboptimal barrier conditions, the authors had only a single case of recontamination.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steige
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saaler-Reinhardt
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lecher
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reifenberg
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006920:Hygiene; D051379:Mice; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms