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Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) system has become a common choice of housing for laboratory rodents.

IVCs are developed:

- to minimize spread of pathogens between cages with protection against allergens
- to maintain low ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and relative humidity (RH)
- protect animals that are free from pathogen
- quarantine animals of unknown health status

(Baumans, 2002)

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Cage material: PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) material/PSU (polysulfone) material

Cage bottom height: 130mm

Cage floor area: 478cm²

Cage dimension: 188×398×202mm（Includes drinking bottle and label slot）

(Bioevopeak, 2021)

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Most of the rodents live more happily and will have lesser behavioural issues like aggression when provided exercising or playing toys experience.

Climbing or exercising also helps the rodents to keep healthy and fulfil their activity demands.

All species like to run on wheels. Wheels are the common toys for the rodents where the side of the wheels should be smooth (without holes to avoid the feet from getting caught and without a rough surface may injure the feet).

The number of wheels provided must be adequate to avoid the cage-mates from fighting for access.

(Hess, n.d.)

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Varies from 25 to 120 air changes hourly(ACH)

Max air speed at animal level: 0.05 m/sec

Low relative humidity (RH) and reduced concentrations of ammonia (NH₃) and CO₂

(Baumans, 2002)

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Hold up different size rodent cages
Size: 15 to 162 cages, varies depending on the size of the cages for different rodents
Multilinking ability: Maximized density
- Consists of a stand-alone air handling unit can manage up to 4 single-sided racks
- energy saving with lower maintenance costs

(Tecniplast, 2016)

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Size:  8.4 inches wide × 14.25 inches deep × 7.3 inches high (213 × 362 × 185 mm)
Material:  Available in polycarbonate, polysulfone, and polyphenylsulfone

(Bilecki, 2006)

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Hold the Type II Long IVCs
Size: Available in 48 to 144 cage configurations
Mode: Can operate in both positive and negative pressure
Filter: Contain HEPA filters to supply and exhaust air

(Bilecki, 2006)

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Level: Two-level three-dimensional environment
Internal height: 38 cm
Floor area: 1862 cm²
- provide perfect visibility of the animals and reduce footprints on both floors
- allow positive behaviour or enrichment in animals: jumping, climbing and standing in bi-pedal posture
- Thus, allowing more reliable research outcomes

(Tecniplast, 2016)

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Sealing Design: Optimal sealing with no latches

Microbiological filter: At cage level to promote gas exchange and protect against microorganisms or pathogens

Non-invasive rack nozzles: Avoid cross-contamination

(Tecniplast, 2016)

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HEPA filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)

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HEPA filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)

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Directly supply controlled amount of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) via the top or the wall of the cages.

Air is exhausted or refiltered in the cage prior to the release into the outer environment (building's exhaust system)

High protection against bacteria, viruses and pathogens

(Baumans, 2002)

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Either positive (+) or negative (-) intracage pressure

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According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, more than half of laboratory animal personnel are affected by skin and respiratory disorders that are caused by exposure to ambient animal allergens.

IVC system - primary way to reduce Laboratory Animal Allergy (LAA)

No official standards for allergen control but industry in UK maintains it a  5 ng/m-3 as the benchmark in order to limit the exposure to rodent allergens below this level.

HEPA-filtered supply air is introduced into the cage, providing uniform, low velocity airflow across the cage.

The drying effect on the bedding is maximized without causing distress to the animals and this allows extended interval for cage change-out.

(Bilecki, 2006)

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Hold up standard size cages for rodents
*Automated Watering System option available
Size: 120 cages with a 76 square inch floor size for rodents
Rotation: rotates 180 degrees in either direction with a 58″ turning diameter
- Fits into tight spaces within rooms to save up spaces and to increase cages per square feet

(Gaia Science, n.d.)

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Air inlet and outlet valves are installed on the top of IVCs:

no air draft at the level of animal movement

lowering the risk of stress

avoid heat loss

(Tecniplast, 2016)

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Excellent lid stacking: avoids damage to the cage locks during cleaning, washing or autoclaving.

Great visibility: allows a clearer view and faster daily check on animals

External self-centering water bottle: allows changing of bottle without opening the lid or removing the cage from rack

Relative ease of handling

(Orchid Scientific, 2019)

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increasing global exchange of genetically modified animals between laboratories

increase the possibility of maintaining a high health standard

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Providing small objects to interact with is essential for all rodents.

For smaller species (mice, rats, hamsters), pine cones (which must be free of parasites and sap and from untreated trees) and deep bedding can be used for tunneling.

For guinea pigs, items like grass cubes and straw (hay woven into small huts, tunnels, mats, and twists and cardboard hide-outs.

(Hess, n.d.)

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Ventilation times in cage：≥40times/h

Air velocity in animal living area in cage：≤0.15m/s

Noise in the cage：≤60dB

Differential pressure: Positive pressure ≥10Pa; Negative pressure ≤-10Pa

Air quality/cleanliness: Grade 5

Cage material: PSU (polysulfone) material

(Bioevopeak, 2021)

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The teeth of rodents grow continuously throughout their entire life.

Therefore, gnawing is essential natural behaviour for rodents maintain their dental health and prevent malocclusion.

Providing a gnawing option is essential especially when mice are maintained on soft or liquid diets.

However, it is important to provide laboratory rodents with safe gnawing materials to prevent rodents from grind the material into bits, swallowing ingesting, resulting in intestinal obstruction.

(Froberg-Fejko, 2014)

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Hiding areas are essential for rodents which love seeking places to hide.

Shelters in the cage can reduce anxiety in rodents by offering disposable and non-disposable options depending on animal preference and facility needs.

Examples:

- Cardboard boxes and tubes (from paper towels and toilet paper)
- Plastic hide-outs

(Bio-Serv, n.d.)

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There are three main types of bedding:
a) Substrate
- To allow comfortable walking instead of walking on metal or plastic.
- To give something for the animals to dig in.
- Criteria of good substrate bedding:

physically safe

unscented

low dust

non-toxic

- Examples:

Cardboard

Coconut husk

Hemp

b) Litter
- To absorb urine and feces and encourage good toilet habits of the rodents in cage.
- Common option for litter bedding:

unscented litter placed in the litter trays

- Avoid mineral or wooden litters, and anything with added perfume.

c) Nesting material
- To line the sleeping areas of rodents.
- The rodents will tear up the materials themselves and used as nesting.
- Types of materials:

Paper kitchen towels like the paper nesting material in pet shops

Unscented toilet tissue

Ripped up newspaper with non-toxic ink

Pieces of fleece fabric (without long threads that may tangle the caged animals)

Compressed cotton nesting squares

(Blyth, 2020)

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ISO decontamination rack allows the entire closed and clean cages, filled with bedding, food, and water to be placed in the autoclave. Besides, the open valve also allows the steam to enter and decontaminate the whole cage.
(Tecniplast, 2016)

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Interested on different commercial models and air handling units? Click here!

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Interested on different commercial models and air handling units? Click here!