Authors: Miyamoto, Toru¹; Li, Zhixia²; Kibushi, Tomomi³; Okano, Shinya³; Yamasaki, Nakamichi⁴; Kasai, Noriyuki³

Source: Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Volume 48, Number 4, July 2009 , pp. 405-411(7)

Publisher: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Abstract:

Animal facilities generate a large amount of used bedding containing excrement as medical waste. We developed a recycling system for used bedding that involves soft hydrothermal processing. In this study, we examined the effects of bedding type on growth, hematologic and serum biochemical values, and organ weights of female and male mice reared on either recycled or fresh bedding from 3 to 33 wk of age. Neither growth nor physiology differed between mice housed on recycled bedding compared with fresh bedding. When 14-wk-old mice were bred, litter size and total number of weaned pups showed no significant differences between animals raised on recycled or fresh bedding. Because bedding type influences the environment within cages and animal rooms, we evaluated particulate and ammonia data from cages and animal rooms. Values were significantly lower from cages and rooms that used recycled bedding than from those using fresh bedding, thus indicating that recycled bedding has the potential to improve the environment within both cages and animal rooms. Overall, this study revealed that recycled bedding is an excellent material for use in housing laboratory rodents. Specifically, recycled bedding may reduce medical waste and maintain healthy environments within cages and animal rooms.

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Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Institute for Animal Experimentation, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Maeda Seisakusho Company, Nagano, Japan 2: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan 3: Institute for Animal Experimentation, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan 4: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Maeda Seisakusho Company, Nagano, Japan

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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• The Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS) serves as an official communication vehicle for the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). The journal includes a section of refereed articles and a section of AALAS association news. The mission of the refereed section of the journal is to disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed information on animal biology, technology, facility operations, management, and compliance as relevant to the AALAS membership. JAALAS accepts research reports (data-based) or scholarly reports (literature-based), with the caveat that all articles, including solicited manuscripts, must include appropriate references and must undergo peer review.
  
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• In this Subject: Biology/Life Sciences ,  Zoology ,  Veterinary Medicine
• By this author: Miyamoto, Toru ;  Li, Zhixia ;  Kibushi, Tomomi ;  Okano, Shinya ;  Yamasaki, Nakamichi ;  Kasai, Noriyuki

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