Housing

The rodent facility is divided into 2 zones.

The Conventional Animal Facility

The GIGA conventional animal facility which occupies 9 floors, respectively dedicated to breeding and experimental procedures, routinely houses about 10 000 mice, 1 000 rats and 50 rabbits used for both research projects and external services. It includes biosecurity level 2 and 3 zones, as well as a zone dedicated to experimental neurosciences, large surgical rooms. The health of the mice is monitored once a year. GIGA-Animal facility is enriched by a zone dedicated for birds (quails and canaries).

The Specific Pathogen-Free Facility

The GIGA SPF Mouse Facility houses around 3 000 mice and is under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. SPF refers to the list of pathogens monitored in our animal facility. This list follows the recommendations for quarterly health monitoring of rodent colonies as edited by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA). The recommendations are primarily intended to standardize health monitoring programs and reporting. But they may also help to standardize the microbiological quality of animals, especially when using mouse models to study human pathologies. Such barrier facility is characterized by sterilized food and bedding; sterilization or disinfection of all supplies and equipment. Each person entering the facility has to be certificated by FELASA Training Courses A, B or C depending on their level of responsibilities. People have to take wet showers and changes into sterilized clothing and shoes at each entry. Gloves, mask and cap have to be worn at all times.

Water is filtered (15-20 microns), then acidified with H2SO4 to achieve a pH of 2.9-3.1, primarily to control Pseudomonas sp. We purchase irradiated diets. Mouse room temperatures are maintained at 18-24°C. Lights are on for 12 hours, and off for 12 hours. Timers are reset for daylight savings time to coincide with caretaker work schedules. Fresh outside air is fully exchanged in the rooms 12-15 times an hour. This air is temperature-controlled and is filtered through high efficiency HEPA filters (0.3 micron; 99.97% filtration). Humidity levels are maintained at 45-65%.