Biological Safety Manual - University of Florida

Aerosols or droplets expelled by the animal from coughing, sneezing, barking, etc.,Vector-borne transmission of disease from fleas, ticks, and other arthropods that may be on theanimal.Non-human Primates (NHPs)Disease transmission to and from non-human primates is of particular concern. The Animal ContactMedical Monitoring Program addresses the health risks of work with these animals, primarily tuberculosisand B-Virus (Herpesvirus simiae) infection. Please familiarize yourself with this information as well as thatprovided by Animal Care Services if you will work with NHPs. See table below for examples of humanand NHP pathogens.Examples of Human and Non-human Primate PathogensAgentDiseasesVariola virusSmallpox in humansPolio virusParalytic poliomyelitis in humansVibrio parahemolyticusShellfish poisoning in humansNon-zoonotic Influenza Flu in humans. Humans have native influenza viruses inaddition to potentially being infected by influenza viruses fromother species.Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) AIDS in humansSimian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) AIDS in NHPs. HIV and SIV are very closely relatedgenetically.Herpes Simplex-1 VirusCold sores in humans; rapidly fatal brain and central nervoussystem disease in some NHPsCerocopithicene Herpes simiae B virus Cold sores in NHPs; rapidly fatal brain and central nervoussystem disease in humansContainment: Animal Biosafety LevelsFour biosafety levels are described for activities involving infectious disease work with commonly usedexperimental animals. These four levels of combined practices, safety equipment, administrative controls,and laboratory facility design and features are designated Animal Biosafety Levels (ABSL) 1, 2, 3, and 4,and provide increasing levels of protection to personnel and the environment. See Table 3 for a summaryof these Animal Biosafety Levels and the BMBL, 5 th edition Section V—Vertebrate Animal Biosafety LevelCriteria for Vivarium Research Facilities for a more detailed description. No ABSL4 experiments arepermitted at UF.One additional biosafety level designated BSL3-Agriculture (or BSL3-Ag) addresses activities involvinglarge or loose-housed animals and/or studies involving agents designated as High ConsequencePathogens by the USDA. BSL3-Ag laboratories are designed so that the laboratory facility itself acts as aprimary barrier to prevent release of infectious agents into the environment. More information on thedesign and operation of BSL3-Ag facilities and USDA High Consequence Pathogens is provided inAppendix D of the BMBL.NIH Guidelines for rDNA Experiments Involving Whole AnimalsThe NIH also devotes a section of the NIH Guidelines for experiments involving whole animals in whichthe animal's genome has been altered by stable introduction of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acidmolecules, or nucleic acids derived therefrom, into the germ-line (transgenic animals) and experimentsinvolving viable recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecule-modified microorganisms tested on wholeanimals. Appendix Q of the NIH Guidelines specifically addresses the physical and biological containmentof large-sized animals, or those that have growth requirements (e.g. cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses,and poultry) that preclude the use of typical containment for laboratory animals.Animal Contact Medical Monitoring ProgramIndividuals who will be working with animals or in proximity to animals are required to participate in theAnimal Contact Medical Monitoring Program, an educational and medical monitoring program designed toprotect UF employees, students, and volunteers from animal-related illnesses. Medical monitoring isbased on the type and frequency of exposure to animals and consists of a risk assessment, follow-up13