The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of environmental contamination in the microbiota of animals used in experimentation, from the comparison of two experimental animal facilities, one protected with video cameras (A) and one not protected with video cameras (B). Bacteria, viruses and endoparasites have been investigated in both facilities, according to the methodology proposed for each agent. For the bacteriological tests, a sample of 222 animals in facility A and 236 from facility B was used; for the virological tests, 119 from facility A and 236 from facility B; and for parasitological examination, 158 from facility A and 316 from facility B. The data were submitted to descriptive analysis and to the Chi-square test. The results indicated a higher occurrence of microrganisms and parasites in animals from the unprotected facility. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pasteurella sp. and Pseudomonas sp. could be detected in the animals from both facilities, whereas viruses and parasites were found only in the unprotected housed mice. Among the viruses in infected animals the most common was the occurrence of Mice Hepatitis Virus (MHV) and among the parasites, the predominant was Syphacia sp. It was concluded that the protected facility was able to ensure microbiological standards more suitable for animal testing, video cameras are important control tools, and the practice of biosecurity must be constant in research institutions.
mouse; biosafety; facility contamination; microrganism