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Considerations for the Care and Use of Amphibians and Reptiles in Research

Comprehensive guidelines for the ethical care, handling, housing, and euthanasia of amphibians and reptiles in research settings. Discover proper protocols to ensure the welfare of these creatures. Valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

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Considerations for the Care and Use of Amphibians and Reptiles in Research

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  1. Considerations for the Care and Use of Amphibians and Reptiles in Research

  2. Reptiles -- Special handling considerations - Salmonella - Aggressive/defensive behaviors - biting (all) - clawing (turtles, lizards) - fecal spraying (snakes)Housing Reptiles:Adults and juveniles: moisture, basking sites, density, feeding schedulesEggs: substrate moisture, temp., positioning to avoid membrane damage

  3. Euthanasia - Reptiles • Intravenous injection of barbituates - problem – barbituates are scheduled drugs (controlled substances) thus difficult to obtain - possible solution – intracoelomic injection of MS-222 (Conroy et al 2009). Inhalation of anesthetics prior to decapitation -- very effective – typical anesthetics employed are isoflurane and halothane Unacceptable methods – -- decapitation without prior anesthesia – brain remains active for several minutes -- freezing – ice crystals may form prior to death

  4. Amphibians -- Special handling considerations: - Salmonella, but recent research suggests that handling frogs with latex gloves may lead to mortality - Toxic dermal secretions (toads, some salamanders) (note – latex gloves may be toxic to amphibians!!) Housing Amphibians:Adults: substrate moisture, hiding substrates, light spectrum, temperatureEmbryos: aeration, water pH 6 to 7.5 generally ideal, dissolved oxygenLarvae: aeration, pH (as with embryos), feeding (know your species), densities

  5. Euthanasia - amphibians • Generally similar to reptiles. • Also acceptable - dermal application of benzocaine followed by decapitation, pithing, or cervical dislocation. • Also acceptable – submersion in buffered MS-222 followed by decapitation, pithing, or cervical dislocation

  6. GUIDELINES FOR USE OF LIVE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN FIELD RESEARCH, Compiled by American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), The Herpetologists' League (HL), Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) http://199.245.200.110/pubs/herpcoll.htmlNumerous other publications dealing with care and use of amphibians and reptiles are linked from the IACUC website

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