Sero-monitoring of common pathogens in various species of laboratory animals at the animal facilities of two research institutes

Sero-screening of mice, rats and hamsters against viruses like Sendai, MHV, ectromelia, reo-3 & LCMV and bacteria like Mycoplasma pulmonis, CAR bacillus and Tyzzer's, organisms was carried out by ELISA tests using Monilisa, Japan, CRL UK, and Express Bio USA kits. Sero-screening of non-human primates against Herpes B Virus was undertaken by using DIA Dot ELISA kits. From one facility a total of 275 animals comprising 166 of mice and 109 of rats were screened. In all, 72 animals for MHV, 34 animals for M. pulmonis and 3 rats for Hantaan virus were found positive for the antibodies. From another facility a total of 321 animals comprising 223 of mice, 56 of rats, 12 of hamsters and 30 of monkeys weres creened. In a1l 33 animals for Sendai virus, 70 animals for MHV, 50 animals for M. pulmonis, 4 animals for Tyzzer's organism, 2 mice for ectromelia virus, 8 mice for reovirus-3, 1 mouse for LCMV and 15 monkey samples for Herpes B virus were found reactive. Prevalence rate of the common laboratory animal pathogens have been described based on the results of serological screening of the serum samples from two different research institutes between years 2006 and 2010.