Modern Vivarium Opens at LSMU Veterinary Academy

The vivarium of LSMU Veterinary Academy was built already in 1936 (total area of the premises – 470 sq. m). This year, when the reconstruction and renovation was finished according to the EU requirements, the vivarium of LSMU Veterinary Academy was opened.

Not only scientific research but also lectures will be conducted in the Vivarium from now. The teaching classes were arranged in the premises, to which the animals in transportation cages will be brought to the students by lift. This improvement causes less stress to animals, while students may attend the lectures comfortably.

R. Ivanauskaitė, the veterinary surgeon of the Vivarium, expressed her joy about having solved the problem of animal transportation after the modern reconstruction, and that several groups of students are already coming and listening to the lectures in the teaching class arranged in the modern way.

In 2007 the premises were modernized and expanded in order to improve the quality of research. The old cages of the animals were replaced by new ones, which satisfy the requirements set for the welfare of animals. Moreover, the environment-friendly cage systems, metabolic chambers and transportation cages were acquired.

According to the Vice-Rector for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Professor A. Sederevičius, it is really a joyful event that the Vivarium of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences has been renovated ad now satisfies completely the general and special requirements for breeding, supply and usage of experimental animals approved by the Order No. B1-866 of the State Food and Veterinary Service on 31 October 2012. The usage of experimental animals at the University provides wider possibilities for fundamental and applied researches in the areas of biomedicine and agricultural sciences as their keeping conditions, health and welfare are ensured. Besides, the Vivarium has conditions for qualitative studies and educational activity using the experimental animals: mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. The main working direction of the vivarium is to breed and supply experimental animals for scientific research and studies.

Experimental research with laboratory animals is carried out with regard to microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, pathological anatomy and research on nutritional, forage raw materials, products of animal origin, and the most dangerous mycotoxins, also to test the new medicaments, etc.

The vivarium is engaged in the educational activity. The young scientists of the Lithuanian schools of general education come to the vivarium on field trips and on open days to learn the problems about animal rights and to make sure about the benefit of experimental animals for science and society.

The pupils of LSMU gymnasium will also be able to come to the University’s Vivarium during the biology classes soon. There they will acquire knowledge about keeping of pets, their feeding and care, and they will also gain practical skills.

Experimental animals are bred and grown in the LSMU VA Vivarium. There the inbreeding BALB/c mice, Wistar rats, guinea pigs and New Zealand’s (white) rabbits are raised.

V. Kazakevičius, the vivarium’s manager, states that the breeding rules are strictly observed in order to ensure the genetic purity of bred animals. The lines are checked according to the genetically determined signs (reciprocal isotransplantation method and polymerase chain reaction assay), and the clinical and morphological tests are performed. 

Jolanta Jonikienė