Summary of the Detection, Impact and Control of Specific Pathogens in Animal Resource Facilities Workshop – April 23-24, 2009

Summary

The National Center for Research Resources organized this workshop on Detection, Impact and Control of Specific Pathogens in Animal Resource Facilities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Lister Hill Auditorium in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop was co-sponsored by the National Institute of Aging.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify current problems and future challenges related to the control, detection, research interpretation and zoonotic potential of emerging and re-emerging pathogens in animal resource facilities, including aquatic models, nonhuman primates (NHP) and rodents. A total of 90 workshop participants represented diverse areas of expertise including infectious diseases, molecular diagnosis, genomics and laboratory animal medicine. In addition, NIH extramural and intramural staff, representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and several commercial companies contributed to the discussions.

The workshop was divided into six sessions:

1. Overview of the current knowledge and practice related to infectious disease management in aquatic animal models, NHP and rodents;

2. New technologies for emerging/re-emerging pathogens;

3. Environmental quality and infectious diseases;

4. Normal microflora in health and disease;

5. Genetics and infectious diseases; and

6. Specific infectious agents and their impact on research.

Workshop participants identified future challenges related to emerging and re-emerging infections in animal models. This included the critical need for biologists, laboratory animal veterinarians and comparative pathologists to aid scientists in managing the large numbers of various animal models utilized in translational research, as well as in ensuring animal health and welfare. Other challenges include identification of unrecognized low-virulent pathogens in animal colonies that may alter and invalidate research findings and the need for new tools for the rapid detection and identification of viral pathogens in animals and biological samples. The Final Workshop Report provides more details regarding the presentations and the specific recommendations from the participants.

Contact Information

For additional information related to this workshop, please contact:

Manuel H. Moro, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Division of Comparative Medicine
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health
One Democracy Plaza, Room 956
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4874 (20817 for express mail)
Telephone: 301-435-0960
Fax: 301-480-3819
E-mail: MoroM@mail.nih.gov