IACUC Policy: Confirmation of Euthanasia

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IACUC Policy:

Confirmation of Euthanasia

 

Policy: The IACUC has provided a set of guidance documents (Policies, Guidelines, and Informational Sheets) for use when planning animal procedures at the University of Iowa. An exception to a Policy must be described and justified in the Animal Protocol and approved by the full IACUC at a convened monthly meeting.

Purpose: This policy lists the IACUC’s requirements of confirmation of euthanasia. 

 

The policy requires that any animal euthanized at the University of Iowa must be subject to a confirmatory method of euthanasia.

               

Large Animal Species (i.e. animals weighing > 500 grams of body weight and all Guinea pigs)

  • A physical confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
  • Examples include:
    • Bilateral thoracotomy
    • Sternotomy
    • Vital tissue harvest (inclusive of heart, lungs, and/or brain)

 

Small Animal Species (i.e. animals weighing < 500 grams of body weight)

  • Example confirmatory methods for animals > 14 days of age include:
    • Cervical dislocation
      • Not acceptable for rats > 200 grams of body weight or hamsters
    • Decapitation
    • Thoracotomy
    • Vital tissue harvest (inclusive of heart, lungs, and/or brain)
    • Continued exposure to CO2 for at least 15 minutes after respiratory arrest
    • For isoflurane euthanasia:
      • If using a vaporizer: a physical method or continued exposure to isoflurane for at least 15 minutes after respiratory arrest is acceptable
      • If using a drop jar: a physical method (cervical dislocation, decapitation, thoracotomy or vital tissue harvest) must be used for confirmation
  • Neonates < 14 days of age are more resistant to CO2; therefore, decapitation is the preferred confirmation method

 

Xenopus

  • A physical confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
    • Overdose of anesthesia may be followed by:
      • Decapitation  
      • Cervical section
      • Removal of heart
    • Decapitation or cervical section must be confirmed by double pithing

 

Zebrafish          

  • Euthanasia must be confirmed.  The following are acceptable confirmations:
      • Zebrafish 8 days post fertilization (dpf) and older
        • Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
        • Decapitation
      • Zebrafish 4 -7 dpf
        • Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
        • Decapitation
      • Zebrafish fry 0-3 dpf
        • The exposure to a dilute (1-10%) sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite solution confirms euthanasia

 

 

References

  1. " AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition" AVMA.org., 2013.

Last Reviewed: 06/14/2017