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Considerations for the Care and Use of Amphibians and Reptiles in Research.
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Considerations for the Care and Use of Amphibians and Reptiles in Research
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
Euthanasia - Reptiles • Intravenous injection of barbituates - problem – barbituates are scheduled drugs (controlled substances) thus difficult to obtain 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
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) 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
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
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