What Is Newcastle Disease?

Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting most species of birds. Clinical signs are extremely variable depending on the strain of virus, species and age of bird, concurrent disease, and preexisting immunity. It is caused by a Rubulavirus. Death rate can be close to 100 percent in unvaccinated poultry flocks.

Routes of Infection

Infection results from direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected bird’ droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. It spreads rapidly among birds kept in confinement.

Risks

In humans, Newcastle disease is rare and presents a mild to moderate and sometimes painful conjunctivitis as a result of an individual rubbing their eyes after having handled infective material. Very rarely does it present with respiratory symptoms as a result of having inhaled dust from infected material.

Treatment

There is no treatment for Newcastle disease. There is vaccination in use for prevention of this disease.

What Are the Enteric Bacteria of Concern?

The intestines of all animals, including commonly used laboratory animals, are colonized by a large number of microbes most of which are harmless. Others are harmless in normal individuals but can produce disease in the very young, those with weakened immune systems, or in a new host that has no prior experience with the microbe. Some bacteria are much more pathogenic and can produce disease in normal individuals on a regular basis. The following are a few of the enteric bacteria most often associated with disease in humans:

• Campylobacter jejuni
• Escherichia coli (pathogenic strains)
• Salmonella species
• Shigella species

Routes of Infection

The transmission of all these organisms to man is by the fecal-oral route. Material contaminated by the feces of animals must be put directly into the person’s mouth. Animals may also transmit these diseases to people. In order to become infected, the human must place material from the animal’s feces directly in his or her mouth. People do this when they fail to wash their hands after handling animals.

Risks

The highest risk is associated with young animals with diarrhea. Good ways to infect yourself would be to eat or drink in the animal facility or to fail to wash your hands before eating, drinking, or smoking after working with animals.

Prevention

The single most effective preventive measure that you could take to protect yourself would be thorough, regular hand washing with soap and warm water after handling animals, especially young animals with diarrhea. If you work with young animals with diarrhea, and you develop intestinal signs, you should report the illness to your supervisor and consult with a physician at Employee Health Services (860-679-2893).

General Information

All animals are capable of inflicting bites and scratches. Smaller animals (rodents and rabbits) generally deliver minor wounds. Larger species (cats and dogs) are capable of inflicting larger wounds. Bites and scratches from nonhuman primates are capable of inflicting severe wounds.

All bites and scratches can expose individuals to biologic hazards which may be transmitted through saliva, secretions, and/or blood. These injuries may be preventable if individuals are trained in the use of proper animal handling techniques and using appropriate personal protective equipment, especially face/eye protection and hand protection. Animals known to be aggressive should be handled by at least two individuals.

General Animal Bite/Scratch Management

Bites or scratches should be immediately washed with soap (preferably an antiseptic soap, such as chlorhexidene-Nolvasan® or Betadine®-povidone iodine) and running water. Bites or scratches that result in bleeding should be thoroughly scrubbed as above for at least 15 minutes. After cleansing, a topical disinfectant and bandage should be used on the wound to protect it. Individuals should notify their supervisor. Depending on the severity of the wound, individuals should seek medical treatment by reporting to the Employee Health Service or Emergency Room.

Bites/Scratches from Rodents

Laboratory rodents are purchased from laboratories which exclude zoonotic agents. For this reason, there is usually limited concern for disease from research rodents. Exceptions would include animals which have been inoculated with biohazardous material (e.g., LCMV) during the course of the research being performed with the animal. There is always concern about a secondary bacterial infection that may occur. Common skin and intestinal bacteria present on the individual or the animal can infect the bite or scratch wound and cause these secondary infections. The wound should have the above first aid procedures performed and medical treatment should be sought for severe or infected wounds and wounds from animals that have been exposed to a biohazardous material.

Bites/Scratches from Rabbits

Laboratory rabbits contain few infectious pathogens. Rabbits, in particular, can inflict scratches with their strong hind legs. As with bites from rodents, there is a concern for secondary bacterial infection from the bite or scratch or from animals that have been inoculated with a biohazardous material. The would should have the above first aid procedures performed and medical treatment should be sought for severe or infected wounds and wounds from animals that have been exposed to a biohazardous material.

Bites/Scratches from Cats

If an individual has been bitten by a cat, the attending veterinarian must be notified as well as the individual’s supervisor. The veterinarian will have to determine if the cat in question has any potential for transmitting rabies which may result in the cat being placed under quarantine and observation for a time period specified by the attending veterinarian. Rabies vaccination is available to personnel who handle cats through the Employee Health Service. Personnel who may be pregnant should contact EHS for counseling regarding precautions to prevent Toxoplasmosis; this infectious organism can cause severe disease in unborn babies. There may be a concern for cat scratch disease; individuals should contact the attending veterinarian and Employee Health Service.

Bites/Scratches from Non-human Primates

Bites and scratches from NHP cause the most concern as they pose a real potential for exposure to zoonotic disease, although transmission of zoonotic disease is rare. Serious injury from bites and scratches can occur. Due to the serious zoonotic potential of Cercopithecine herpes virus 1 (Herpes B virus) infection, all individuals who will be using NHPs must attend special training from the attending veterinarian prior to working with these animals. In addition, all personnel who work with NHPs must have an annual TB test.

All areas which house NHP contain a bite/scratch/exposure first aid kit. The individual should know where these kits are located and retrieve it if any exposure from a NHP occurs.

If an individual is bitten or scratched by a NHP, the area should be immediately scrubbed and cleansed with a mixture of soap and irrigation solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Exposures to the eyes, nose, and mucous membranes should immediately be irrigated with the sterile eye solution in the first aid kit immediately and then find an eye wash station to continue irrigation for 15 to 20 minutes. The individual’s supervisor and the attending veterinarian should be informed. The employee then must visit EHS or the emergency room for a wound culture, a blood sample, and other immediate care as necessary. The first aid kit will have a bag labeled “Employee Health/Emergency Department” which you must bring with you; this includes sterile swabs, culture and serum tubes, a protocol for further evaluation, a signs and symptoms of infection sheet, and a form for sample submission to the Georgia State University Viral Immunology Center. More detailed information from CCM can be found under Non-Human Primate Specific Occupational Health and Safety Risks.

What Is Avian Tuberculosis?

Avian tuberculosis is a chronic wasting disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium avium that can affect a wider range of bird species and may affect mammalian species (including humans, though the serotypes affecting humans have generally been different to those isolated from poultry). Avian TB occurs worldwide but most frequently occurring in the Northern Hemisphere in the temperate zone.

Routes of Infection

Infection results from ingestion of material contaminated with feces of infected birds or other animals. The feces of infected birds can contain very large numbers of the bacteria. M. avium can persist in the environment for many years. Spread from contaminated environments can take place mechanically on shoes and equipment. Ingestion of infected carcasses can also spread the infection. Eggs are not considered to play a significant role in the source of infection.

Risks

M. avium infection can be dangerous in humans with compromised immune systems.

General Information

Allergic reactions to animals are among the most common conditions that affect individuals who have contact with laboratory animals. One survey demonstrated that 75 percent of all institutions with laboratory animals had workers who had contact with animals having allergic symptoms. Workers exposed to laboratory animals can be categorized into several risk groups:

Risk Group	History	Risk of Allergic Reactions to Laboratory Animals	Comment
Normal	No evidence of allergic disease	~ 10%	90% will never develop symptoms in site of repeated animal contact
Atopic	Pre-existing allergic disease	Up to 73%	Workers who become sensitized will eventually develop symptoms on exposure
Asymptomatic	IgE Ab to allergenic animal proteins	Up to 100%	Risk of developing allergic symptoms or rhinitis, asthma, or contact uticaria with continued exposure is high
Symptomatic	Clinical symptoms on exposure to allergenic animal proteins	100%	33% with chest symptoms; 10% of group might develop occupational asthma; even minimal exposure can lead to permanent impairment

Symptoms

Allergic individuals can display a variety of symptoms: allergic rhinitis (runny nose and sneezing); allergic conjunctivitis (irritation and tearing of the eyes); asthma (wheezing and shortness of breath); contact dermatitis (red, bumpy rash), or rarely anaphylaxis (ranging from mild generalized urticarial reactions to profound life-threatening reactions).

Prevention

Individuals who work with laboratory animals should be aware of the signs and symptoms of allergies and asthma. If you work with animals and start to develop any symptoms, you should report to Employee Health Services for counseling and appropriate treatment. The presence of pre-existing allergic conditions in a person (e.g., hay fever) might increase the likelihood of developing asthma in the occupational setting during exposure to laboratory animals.

The most effective way to minimize your exposure to allergens is to control your work practices. The following are steps you should take:

1. Do not wear your street clothes when working with animals; always wear dedicated, protective clothing (e.g., scrubs and lab coats)

2. If you already have allergies, wear an approved NIOSH certified N95 respirator when working with laboratory animals. Remember that, in order to wear a respiratory, you must be fit-tested by the Environmental Health & Safety.

3. Keep cages and your work area clean. The less exposure you have to animal dander and urine, the better.

4. Always wear gloves and long-sleeved lab coats when handling the animals.

5. Wash your hands after contact with the animals.

6. When possible, perform animal manipulations in a biosafety cabinet. A clean bench will not protect you- its function is to protect the animals you are working with.

If your job requires you to be exposed to something to which you are allergic, you should discuss this situation with your physician- what effect the allergy may be on your future health. Some workers are so severely affected that only a change in career will control their allergies.

Your Potential Risks

Based on the species you are working with, you should be aware of the following potential health risks:

• Asthma and Allergy in Animal Handlers
• Avian Tuberculosis
• Bites and Scratches
• Enteric Bacteria
• Newcastle Disease
• Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
• Psittacosis
• Salmonellosis

What You Should Do

1. Be knowledgeable about the potential for developing allergies and/or asthma due to animal handling- especially if you are already allergic. When seeking medical advice for any illness, inform your physician that you work with birds.

2. Consider using a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator – even if you do not have any symptoms. These respirators have been shown to reduce the chance of developing laboratory animal allergies. In order to use a respirator, you must have a fit test through the Environmental Health & Safety.

3. Know proper handling techniques of birds. Only trained personnel should handle birds. Handling and restraint training can be scheduled through the Center for Comparative Medicine.

4. Gloves and lab coats should be worn at all times when working with birds. Minimize wearing protective clothing, such as lab coats, outside of animal areas and laboratories. Follow posted personal protective clothing requirements. Perform procedures in a laminar flow hood whenever possible.

5. Keep transport carriers out of labs/offices/public areas.

6. Use disposable supplies whenever possible. Sanitize laboratory and surgical areas after animal work.

7. Always wash your hands after coming in contact with birds.

Get the Facts

All individuals working in a facility should receive appropriate training on that facility’s particular biohazards, precautions, and biohazard evaluation procedures. If there is something you don’t understand, ask your supervisor. If they don’t know, ask Employee Health Services (860-679-2893).

Seek Medical Attention Promptly

If you are injured on the job, you must promptly report the accident to your supervisor, even if it seems minor. You will then report to employee health services for evaluation of the injury. This is especially important when working with non-human primates or their housing areas.

The Supervisor’s Role

The supervisor is responsible for teaching the workers what they need to know to perform their job safely and effectively.

Tell Your Physician You Work with Animals

Whenever you’re ill, even if you’re not certain that the illness is work related, always mention to your physician that you work with animals. Many zoonotic diseases have flu-like symptoms, and your physician needs this information to make an accurate diagnosis.

Use Personal Protective Equipment

Some types of work require personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, face shields, masks, respirators, etc. Always use the protective devices where required, and follow your supervisor’s instructions. Individuals should realize that there is a difference between masks and respirators- respirators (such as N95 respirator masks) are highly recommended for individuals working with animals. Respirators form a seal around your face and must be fit-tested. They are also approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Wash Your Hands

The most common way to contract a zoonotic infection is place the infectious material directly in your own mouth. Always wash your hands after handling an animal or anything that the animal has touched. Never smoke, drink, apply cosmetics, or eat in the animal room or before washing your hands.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wear protective clothing when working with animals. For some workers, protective clothing will consist of a lab coat; for others it may be a dedicated set of work clothing. Never take protective clothing home with you. Protective clothing insures that you won’t bring potentially contaminated material home with you.

Training

Training should be appropriate for the employee’s education, experience, and language skills. Training sessions are documented. Everyone in the workplace should be aware of their own safe work practices and those of others. Safety is everyone’s business. The Office or Research Safety conducts regular training regarding chemical, blood-borne pathogen training, and radiation safety. The IACUC conducts regular training regarding animal use.

General Information

Read Staying Healthy in the Animal Facility for general information about working with laboratory animals. All animal work involves some risk and everyone who works in an animal facility, or with animals, should be familiar with the risks associated with their work.

Perform a risk analysis on our website. Just click on the animal(s) that you are working with to get an idea of what potential hazards there are when you use that species.

If you have a health condition that might make you more susceptible to illness than the average worker, you should make an appointment with Employee Health Services to discuss your condition with an occupational health provider with your particular risks. Any discussion between you and the occupational health provider will be kept strictly confidential.

You should also speak with the occupational health provider if you are pregnant, already suffer from allergies, are undergoing therapy for cancer, or suffer from a chronic infection of any type.

Please follow the links to the species that you are using in your work with laboratory animals:

 

 

 

Submission Deadlines

Typically, deadlines are somewhat flexible. Please contact the IACUC office at ooacc@uchc.edu if it is imperative that your submission be on a particular agenda date and you are submitting after the deadline date and time as it will require the approval of the IACUC Chair.  The only exceptions to this are the deadlines for the November and December agendas – the deadlines are FIRM at noon on the date listed.

Only complete protocols will be reviewed by the IACUC; simply submitting a protocol by the deadline does not mean that the protocol is ready for Committee review. If your protocol is returned for any reason, you must resubmit the revised protocol by the deadline date to be considered at that month’s meeting.

Reviews after the meetings are sent to the PI as soon as possible; however, please note that the IACUC requires 2-3 business days to process reviews.  Please do not call the IACUC office about the status of your reviewed submission immediately after the meeting; if you have not received your review by the end of the day on the Tuesday following the IACUC meeting, please call the IACUC office at x3429 or email at ooacc@uchc.edu.

Date	Time	Location	Deadline for submissions
June 27, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, June 10, 2024
July 25, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Wednesday, July 10, 2024
August 29, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, August 12, 2024
September 26, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Tuesday, September 10, 2024
October 31, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Thursday, October 10, 2024
November 21, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – NO EXCEPTIONS
December 5, 2024  *	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040
December 19, 2024	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Tuesday, December 10, 2024 – NO EXCEPTIONS
January 30, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Friday, January 10, 2025
February 27, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, February 10, 2025
March 27, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, March 10, 2025
April 24, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Thursday, April 10, 2025
May 29, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, May 12, 2025
June 5, 2025 *	2:00 pm	Neuroscience Conference Room, E-4036
June 26, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Tuesday, June 10, 2025
July 31, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Thursday, July 10, 2025
August 28, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, August 11, 2025
September 25, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Wednesday, September 10, 2025
October 30, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Friday, October 10, 2025
November 20, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Monday, November 10, 2024 – NO EXCEPTIONS
December 4, 2025 *	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040
December 18, 2025	2:00 pm	SOM Conference Room, L-5040	Noon, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – NO EXCEPTIONS

*These meetings are to discuss the Animal Care and Use Program used at UConn Health and the results of the semi-annual facility and laboratory inspections. Protocols and modifications are not part of the agendas for these meetings.

Protocol Applications and Modifications: Submission Instructions

INFOED FOR ANIMAL CARE AND USE PROTOCOLS

The InfoEd Animal Use/ IACUC module is available for use within the UConn Health InfoEd eRA Portal at https://uchealth.infoed.uconn.edu. This is the same portal that many researchers use for disclosing Financial Conflicts of Interests in Research or to view SPS grant proposal/award information. The Animal Use / IACUC module will be available once a user logs in. The InfoEd eRA portal is secured by UConn (Storrs) NetID which usually uses the format of your initials / three letters and a sequence of five numbers  (e.g. abc12345). It is different from your UConn Health domain account login. If you don’t know your NetID, you may look it up at https://netid.uconn.edu. You may obtain NetID and password assistance by calling University ITS at 860-486-4357.

If you have technical computer questions, experience any difficulties with using the InfoEd stystem,  discover any issues, or see things that just don’t seem quite right, please document them by creating screenshots and provide a synopsis of the steps you took prior to seeing the issue. Please send these materials to era-support@uconn.edu – NOT THE IACUC OFFICE.  Most Research IT staff telecommute so they may be unable to answer the main support line at 860-486-7944, but you may leave a detailed message and staff will call you back or reply back via email as soon as possible.  Each voicemail automatically creates an eRA help desk ticket via email. Again, NetID login/password assistance should be directed to the UITS Support Center at 860-486-4357.

If you need something added to a drop-down menu (e.g., name of a new hazard, new room location, name of a procedure, etc.) please send an email to the IACUC office.  Do not send your request directly to the OVPR IT Helpdesk.

Please note that InfoEd has the ability to attach documents.  IACUC practices state that documents are only allowed to supplement information, not replace information.  In addition, you cannot attach or reference “living” documents (such as google docs).  Anything referenced or linked to InfoEd must be “static”.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON 3-YEAR RENEWALS:

3 YEAR RENEWAL PROTOCOLS – These are to be processed as INITIAL APPLICATIONS and you select “3-year renewal” as the protocol renewal type.

By law, 3 year renewals require a de novo review, which we do by having the PI create a new protocol which will be identified as a 3-year renewal in InfoEd.

In InfoEd, you need to select ‘new protocol’ for your form type whether it is a true new protocol or a three year renewal protocol.  Once you are in the eform, in Section 1 “Information”, the second question “Protocol Renewal Information” will default to “new protocol”.  If your protocol is a 3-year renewal, you must select “3-year renewal” from the drop down menu in the question “Protocol Renewal Information”.

If you are doing procedures categorized as pain category D and/or E, you MUST have an updated veterinary consultation – required even if you haven’t “changed” anything from the old protocol.  Submissions will not be processed if an updated veterinary consultation has not been performed and attached to the document.

PLEASE NOTE:  In section 1 “Administration” the first question is protocol title.  InfoEd defaults  the title question to “new protocol submitted by ‘PI name’ on ‘date and time'”.  You must change the name from this default title to your actual protocol title.  Protocols cannot be processed without an appropriate title.

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Helpful Information

The following are examples of different aspects of the animal care and use protocol form.

• Example of Project Overview
• Example of Alternatives to Painful Procedures
• Surgical procedures
• Non surgical procedures

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The IACUC office has a workbook entitled “Working with the IACUC: Writing an Animal Protocol” which was written by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AAALAS). It is a good resource for individuals who must write animal care and use protocols. You can get a copy by going to the IACUC office or contacting the IACUC office at ooacc@uchc.edu.

Recombinant Animals Forms and Tables – Excel to Upload into InfoEd

The below Excel files are used for new InfoEd protocols where Section 13 on the InfoEd eform applies. Users fill out the Excel file(s) and upload them in the appropriate area of InfoEd when appropriate for their study.

Recombinant Rodent Information Table (RRIT)

Recombinant Rodent Compliance Form (RRCF)

Recombinant Non-Rodent Information Table (RNRIT)

Animal Safety Protocols – Word documents

The use of chemical hazards, infectious agents, human materials, and radioactive materials in animal may require an animal safety protocol.  The IACUC has developed Word documents that are separated into sections – you need only complete the sections required for your particular hazard and use.  Please use the chart below to determine which sections of the safety protocol are required for your hazard(s).  Then download the documents, complete them, and send them to the IACUC Administrator.  Please note that Section J is a help document for you and you should print it out to help you when you fill out your relevant sections of the safety protocol.

Download and complete all sections required.  DO NOT ATTACH TO INFOED.  Send all forms to the IACUC Administrator only.  The forms say something different in the instructions; we cannot change them at this point, so please follow this directive.  DO NOT PDF SECTION I AND COLLECT SIGNATURES AT THIS POINT.  Once the animal safety protocol is approved, it will be attached to InfoEd by the IACUC office at approval of the protocol.  Then you can print out the animal safety protocol and obtain required signatures (after people have read the documents, of course!).

Please do not combine your Word Document Sections.  Please keep them separate.

IF YOU NEED TO MODIFY AN ANIMAL SAFETY PROTOCOL – please contact the IACUC office.  The IACUC office will send you what you will need to modify your animal safety protocol.

	Sections A/B	Section C	Section D	Section E	Section F	Section G	Section H	Section I
Chemical hazard	X	X					X	X
Infectious agent	X		X				X	X
Human material	X			X			X	X
Infectious agent concurrently with Human material	X		X	X			X	X
Chemical hazard used concurrently with [infectious agent and/or human material]	X	X	X (as applicable)	X (as applicable)	X		X	X
Radioactive material	X					X	X	X

Sections A/B

Section C

Section D

Section E

Section F

Section G (currently still under construction)

Section H

Section I

Section J