Animal Husbandry and Care Flashcards
7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Animal Husbandry and Care flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes the purpose of sentinel animals in a rodent colony?
Answer: To serve as health monitors by detecting pathogens circulating in the colony
Sentinel animals are exposed to used bedding from colony cages and then tested periodically to detect subclinical infections in the colony.
A technician is assigned to clean and disinfect rabbit caging. Which step must occur BEFORE disinfection is effective?
Answer: Thorough physical cleaning to remove organic matter
Organic matter (feces, urine, fur) inactivates most disinfectants; thorough cleaning must precede any disinfection step.
What is the recommended light cycle for most standard laboratory rodent housing?
Answer: 12 hours light, 12 hours dark
A 12:12 light/dark cycle is standard for most laboratory rodents to maintain normal circadian rhythms.
A technician notices that a rat's fur appears yellow and oily. This condition is known as:
Answer: Chromohidirosis (yellow fur syndrome)
Yellow fur syndrome (chromohidrosis) in rats is caused by secretion of yellow/orange pigmented compounds from the Harderian gland onto the fur.
What minimum floor space (sq in) per mouse is required for animals weighing up to 25 g, according to the Guide for Care and Use?
Answer: 6 sq in
The Guide recommends at least 6 square inches of floor space per mouse weighing up to 25 grams.
Which of the following is the primary reason cedar shavings are NOT recommended as rodent bedding?
Answer: Aromatic hydrocarbons induce liver enzymes and can alter drug metabolism
Cedar shavings emit volatile aromatic hydrocarbons that induce hepatic microsomal enzymes, confounding pharmacological and toxicological studies.
During a health check, a technician observes red-stained tears and nasal discharge in a rat. This secretion is called:
Answer: Chromodacryorrhea (porphyrin secretion)
Chromodacryorrhea is the reddish-brown porphyrin-containing secretion from the Harderian gland, which appears around eyes and nares during stress or illness.