Development of novel mechanisms for housing, handling, and remote monitoring of common marmosets at animal biosafety level 3.
The use of common marmosets as an alternative non-human primate model for infectious disease research using BSL-3 viruses such as Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) presents unique challenges with respect to housing, handling, and safety. Subject matter experts from veterinary care, animal husbandry, biosafety, engineering, and research were consulted to design a pilot experiment using marmosets infected with RVFV. This paper reviews the caging, handling, and safety-related adaptations and modifications that were required to humanely utilize marmosets as a model for high-hazard BSL-3 viral diseases.
Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Diana S
DS
Powell
Reagan C
RC
Walker
Dennis T
DT
Heflin
Dan
D
Fisher
Joseph B
JB
Kosky
Lesley C
LC
Homer
Douglas S
DS
Reed
Kelly
K
Stefano-Cole
Anita M
AM
Trichel
Amy L
AL
Hartman
D032761:Animal Experimentation; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods; D002144:Callithrix / Q000502:physiology*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003264:Containment of Biohazards; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
Regional Biocontainment Laboratory; Rift Valley fever virus; biosafety level 3; radiotelemetry