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The Department of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) operates the
largest overseas laboratory animal facility within the
DoD and provides scientists with world-class research
animal support. The AFRIMS Animal Care and Use Program
is fully accredited by the Association for the Assessment
and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International
(AAALAC) and has the capabilities to support research
in accordance with the US Good Laboratory Practice Act
(21 CFR Part 58).
The basic science departments at the AFRIMS require animal
models of human disease to study disease mechanisms and
to determine the safety and efficacy of vaccines, therapeutics,
and diagnostic tests. Examples of AFRIMS research involving
animals includes studies of hepatitis (pigs and rats),
malaria (monkeys and mice), flaviviruses (monkeys, pigs
and chickens), and diarrheal diseases (mice). Veterinary
personnel also assist in human disease outbreak situations.
These diseases are frequently zoonotic and require the
surveillance of wild and domestic animals to determine
their epidemiology.
The
AFRIMS maintains a breeding colony of the roof rat (Rattus
rattus), an unusual laboratory animal species.
A
key strategy to detect new, emerging diseases of humans
is to systematically screen for zoonotic diseases such
as in this field surveillance, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
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Two
rhesus macaque mothers and young from the AFRIMS’ prolific
nonhuman primate breeding colony.
A
technician sections paraffin-embedded tissues for microscopic
evaluation. A U.S. board certified veterinary pathologist
allows conduct of regulatory drug and vaccine studies
for U.S. (and international) product registration.
The DVM maintains breeding colonies
of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys and multiple species
of rodents to support these studies. The Department has
the facilities and expertise to maintain other species
if and when necessary. The vivarium has isolation capabilities
to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and barrier
capabilities to maintain immunocompromised or pathogen-free
animals. A full-service surgical facility with class 100
HEPA filtered supply air, and diagnostic capabilities
including radiology, necropsy, and laboratory services
are integral to the Department. A veterinary pathologist
provides gross and microscopic evaluation of animal tissues.
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