Robert C Dysko, DVM

University of Michigan
Special Unannounced Guest Speakers
Reminded us that we need to keep educating the
public on the importance of animal research, and
the vital need for optimal transportation

Test Driving the Audience Response System
Bruce Kennedy and Ford Morishita
Demonstrated that we do make assumptions about
how animal transportation works
Which demonstrated that this workshop has value in
kick-starting educational efforts within our own sphere

Overview of Laboratory Animal Transportation
William White, CRL
How Animals Move through the Air Cargo System
Gregg Pittelkow, Covance
Carl Kole, Kole Consulting
What is IATA and How is Air Cargo Controlled?
Bruce Clemmons, Chair of IATA LAPB
Crossing International Borders: A European
Perspective
Robert Quest, City of London Corp.
Land Transportation: The Process and
Requirements
Kenneth Kobus, CRL
Robert Fernandez, Direct Services, Inc.
Health Status Before, During, and After
Transit
Kathleen Pritchett-Corning, Harvard University
Life Science Logistics for Lab Animals
Lynn Anderson, Covance

Species-Specific Presentations
Nonhuman Primates
Joe Simmons, Insight Diagnostics and Consulting,
LLC
Dogs and Ferrets
Andy Smith, Marshall Bioresources
Mice, Rats, and Small Mammals
William White, CRL
Fish
David Lains, University of Oregon
National and International Regulatory
Requirements
World Animal Health Organization (OIE)
P. Gary Egrie (whos really with USDA/APHIS)
US Customs and Border Patrol
Romelito Lapitan
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sharon Lynn
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Gale Galland
US Department of Agriculture
Carol Clarke
Considerations at the State Level
Dan Kovich, Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
OIE sets standards for worldwide animal health
and trade
Animal welfare identified as a priority in 2001
CPB Customs and Border Protection
Is always the last regulatory step in an importation effort
Contact FWS Official at the port you intend to use
for importation!!
CDC primarily NHPs
USDA
New rule on importation of live dogs effective
11/14/2014
Plant Protection and Quarantine
Commonwealth of Virginia
Interesting set of definitions and regulations
Could we adopt something like the CVED that gets
an animal shipment through multiple countries in
Europe?

All orgs lots of layers and pieces and parts
Who or what applies?
IT DEPENDS!
Interactive Exercises

David Kurtz, NIEHS

Journey Planning
Houston, We Have a Problem

Perspectives
How to Inform the Public Regarding Animal
Transportation: An Educators Perspective
C Ford Morishita
The European Perspective
Kirk Leech, European Animal Research Association
Lab Animal Transportation: An Academic
Shippers Perspective
Steven Leary, Washington University
Its Not Personal; Its Business: A Carriers
Perspective
Carl Kole, Kole Consulting

David covered a lot of the summary
information during the journey planning
exercises
Thanks David!
Laboratory animal transportation takes a lot
of planning!
Laboratory animal transportation can involve
a lot of people and agencies!
Laboratory animal transportation can involve
completing a lot of paperwork!

There are many challenges to shipping animals
by air:
Animal shipment is a low priority for the airline industry
Minimal cost/benefit
Competing goods can be shipped more easily

Overall, the process goes pretty well, but
Commercial passenger aircraft have minimal locations to
ship the animals
Temperature control of those spaces is variable
Laboratory animals WILL travel with other animals and goods
Often they will be held at ground locations with other
animals and goods
Container construction is EXTREMELY important
Training personnel is EXTREMELY important (even
though it is not required)
Preparation and contingencies are EXTREMELY
important

There are many reasons for air shipment of
laboratory animals, but it is a challenge for airlines,
shippers, and consignees

Transporting animals by the most direct route, with
the fewest transfers, is in the best interests of the
animals

Continue generating support for humane
animal-based research and for the necessary
transportation means associated with it.
Establish a contingency mechanism to replace
commercial airlines as the primary means to
transport animals across long distances.
Put forward educational materials for
individuals in the field (e.g., institutional
import/export coordinators), and for public
consumption

Opinions
Will breeding facilities increase # of facilities to
meet demand?
Problems they will overproduce and they are costly
(so costs will go up)
WW says proper humane transportation is the best way
to respond to the 3Rs

Make sure health certificates have the details
needed by the recipient country
Ex. Statement about rabies for mice
CCP Critical control points
Transport to shipper to transport to destination
Many rodents shipped are for pet trade or food
And they will be next to your SPF rodents
So shipping crate quality is integral
Carriers: door-to-door is best to maintain SPF-ness
2ary to 1ary to 2ary most common
Plane is not rodent harborage issue
But in the holding facility (warehouse)
rodents could be next to something that was
good harborage (e.g., food)
Unpacking is a critical step
Example of fall parvo in lower crates at arrival
facility

Life science logistics
Clinical illness dont ship them
GMOs with stable challenges may be OK to ship, but health
certificate should indicate
OK to ship infected animals, but recipients may not want
Shippers responsibility
Shipping unweaned animals w/ or w/o mom not a good idea
Best alternative ship pregnant female in 1
st
or 2
nd
trimester
GMOs may need special meds or diets consider in journey
planning.
Most cases, can ship as N animals
Alt frozen embryos
Immunodefs container is paramount (exclusion), may need to
more seriously address temp control for nudes
Obese animals more prone to heat stress
Pre-shipping grouping
Not immediately pre-shipment, need an acclimation
period, fighting is decreased with increased packing
density
Post-sx animals wait until reasonably well-healed,
and if they require therapy no ship
External devices ship segregated no buddies
Shipping may cause 10% weight loss
decreased food and water intake within first
12-24 hours
Lots to think about with transit
Insulation of container
Packing density
_____________________________
Q&A #2
Viewing windows
Bill whites data minimal differences between ground
and air for the 4 largest breeders, and very low incidence
Temp excursions Bill said not as big and typical as some
people assume CRL and Covance do temperature
tracking
KPC differing exclusion lists for different facilities
FELASA/AALAS` group not standardizing lists, but
standardizing reporting format.
NHPs
PLANNING!
SO MUCH AT STAKE public interest, regulations,
costs
Every detail must be thought out and planned incl.
the unexpected
Permitting
Ground trans
Air trans
More ground trans
Weather big factor long distances
CITES
USFW in US exporting permit is often
toughest piece
USDA and foreign equivalents
Customs and FEs
CDC and FEs
HSA and TSA
Permitting
In US it takes a CITES export permit 3-4 mos
Countries of origin could be shorter or longer
May req a pre-export quarantine
Weather
Contingency plans weather, vet care, air and
ground transport, personnel (since animals may
be in quarantine & extensive PPE for staff)
Ground transport companies usually work
together in emergencies
Plus experienced animal techs us. accompany ground
shipments of NHPs
Vets often on charter flights
Have plan for obtaining vet care en route (if
no vet on board)
NHP sources now typically breeding
facilities in countries of origin
IATA crates may not necc comply with USFW
and USDA standards
CITES permit requires individual animal IDs in
the permit
Provided with favorite high-quality food source (high
calorie thats also a good water source)
Boxes screwed shut
Slides of NHP shipments from China
Arrival in US req trained staff from airline to take off
plane. Staff trained by receiver, and they wore
quarantine-based PPE.
Inspection and well-being check
Entire shipment is under CDC quarantine so
everything gets disinfected
Inspections by CDC, USDA, & USFW
Conflicting agencies gave ex. of a USFW vs. CDC
issue
Dogs and ferrets
Reviewed USDA regs
Crates cheaper is not better
Pet store crates are unsuitable for research
dog transport
Reviewed list of things that can go wrong
Planning needs to be shared with truck
drivers
Pilots can reject animal shipments

Rodents
Shipping container construction
Gnaw resistant
Finished wire edges
Over-shippers
Hamsters need 2 layers of wire
Liquids cannot pass through floor
Filters must be protected from abuse by the animals
Filters water-resistant and tear-resistant
Effective ambient temperature in the cage
The lower the outer ambient temp, the better the
ventilation

Air filters, once autoclaved, lose porosity
They are even better filters, but block all air exchange
Other reasons not to use
May loss integrity with sterilization
May not be able to adequately re-seal
Dont skimp on bedding
Enrichment and nesting materials rarely used by the
rodents during shipment
Use the dry food, place in bedding for foraging
Affix gel packs to the inside of shipping crates
And slit it open
Water kits can leak, put in a bag in a plastic container
No potatoes
If delays exceed 24h, can open crates, but need to be done
scientifically
IATA coming out with new shipping density
guidelines in 2015
Recipient countries may require extra
certificates and even extra testing, possibly
quarantine
Have consignee be responsible
Mouse passports
Way to get handling info from shipping inst. to
recipient.

Fish
Adults survive well
Breeding in 1-2 weeks
Fastest to research-ready
Embryos
In tissue culture flask,
High density shipments
Biosecure disinfect
Cost effective
Temperature sensitive
Cryopreserved sperm
Hundreds of lines per shipment
Most cost effective
Critical to keep the water in the bag
3 mil polyethylene inside bag is handmade with a
square bottom
Outer bag straight bottom
Maintain equal water and gas pressures
Can use other watertight boxes and flasks
Label with store at room temp labels some folks
automatically place Styrofoam boxes in freezers
Heat packs maintain warm temps in Styrofoam box
during winter taped to lid
Packing peanuts to fill voids (but not the
biodegradable kind), or bubble wrap, or water-filled
fish bags
Increases thermal mass which helps keep fish warm


Water
Worry about ph, ammonia (add ChlorAm-X) to treat
ammonia, chlorine, and chloramines
In bag: Gas 50% /water 50%
CO2 controls the ph
Concern greater over warm temps rather than
colder ones because heat packs help handle
USFW primary agency
USDA may be involved if exportation
paperwork is required

An over-shipper for nhps (and rodents?)
Bill thinks OIE tackled this, and prototype was too large and
complicated
B virus challenge staff are protected if they wear proper
PPE
USFW crate violation for ventilation - usually results in a
citation and a fine
Floor of rodent shipment boxes double floor
Upper level has bedding and wire (to prevent chewing through),
lower level has a coating that prevents wicking through to the
outside
Cryopreserved sperm is the only available method now to
ship fish high density looking into stem cells
Embryos that hatch happens on intl shipments usually
just relaxing absorbing their yolk sac, so is not a risk.



Defined laboratory animals
As expected, most are mice, rats, or fish
Logistical challenge to breeding everything in
house
Space resources
Divergence (inbred), loss of heterozygosity
(outbred)
Goes against 3 Rs
Shipping embryos many advantages, but 9+
week delay, ~ 30% recovery (avg.), still must
transport if at repository
Minimizing illness/infection, distress, death
or injury
Analogy bus or train to move people
Meet the needs of average traveler it is not necc.
optimal
We need to learn about what happens in between;
dont make assumptions
Other perishable cargo compete for space and
conditions
Tiny fraction of all goods moved, and overall failure
rate is LOW
0.07 failure rate with a very liberal
definition of failure
AND you have errors by the packing groups
Ground transportation
Weather, traffic, and mechanical breakdowns
Not a lot of choices
Costs are high
Regs from both USDA and DOT
Pets are preferred citizens
Not all planes can carry animals
Shipper is responsible for health status and
escaped animals
Many reasons that animals wont go
Air travel ALWAYS involves some land
transport
Other rules in other countries must default
to strictest
Interpretations can vary within a country

Air transport
Skies are busy, and getting busier
Regional jets Carriage of animals is limited
to none
Single-aisle jets workhorses, and # will
grow
Accept small shipments under limited conditions
S/M twin-aisle jets sim to above
L twin-aisle jets sim to above, a little more
capacity
Most narrow bodies fixed air space
thermostat controlled in cockpit - must
calculate CO2 generated
Carrying people is Job #1 emphasis is on
efficiency of this
Cost-benefit analysis not good for animal
shippers
Single aisle jets 2 compartments, 0 or 1
could carry animals
S/M/L twin-aisle aircraft
Forward and 1
st
aft palletized cargo
Bulk compartment (tail of aircraft) can be fairly
large
NOTE: all cargo comps on all jet aircraft are
pressurized
Minimally heated 40d to prevent freezing
HVAC systems vary greatly
Animal compartment heating
Cabin air into heating element into compartment, to
exhaust fan, and out
System is on (65oF) or off (45oF), and it has
big variance (50-70oF)
Some planes have better systems, with better
temp control
NOTE they are run by the engines so when
engines are off , its ambient T
Improved T control systems really just allow
planes to carry more animals, because its the
CO2 load that affects the # that can be
carried
Why not on all planes?
$$
Heavy, and carried on every trip
>20 $/lb/year, and lessen aircrafts range
Addl maintenance req.

Animals in cabin
NO
Public concern/objection
Allergies
Escapes and damage
Regs in other countries
Allowed: dogs, cats, and sometimes birds
Facilities
Usually a corner of a warehouse
Indoors, and thats about it
Overseas, may just be a section outside
Few airlines invest in animal transport
programs
KLM and Lufthansa great animal transport
facilities, but KLM wont take research
animals, and Lufthansa will take a limited #
Cargo facilities usually located far way from
passenger terminals

Air travel is a commodities business, and
animal transport will be subject to this
Its a limited potential market
_____________________________
Not a lot of optimism
Shrinking fleets, changing priorities
Training
Regs wide variance between countries
Diff training protocols
EU training is species-specific
Majority of nations have general animal regs
w/no minimum training reqs
Liability for training carrier outsources to
3
rd
party handler

Cost of training
$26/hour for unionized workers
10,000 ground handlers for major carrier, not incl.
the acceptance and cargo personnel (cargo
cleaners)
ESL
Costs exceed revenue stream for cargo
transportation

Training curricula
Web based
Tailored to LCD
Customized develop in-house or 3
rd
party
Not interactive
A one way communication
One size fits all with a few exceptions
Cargo only, and some countries
Emergency training
Generally an afterthought
Emergencies are so varied
Carrier defers to shipper or broker
It is good planning to meet with ALL involved
parties
Meet before an emergency event
People passengers are first
IATA and Air Cargo
777 plane can handle 100,000 lbs of cargo
IATA: Stds and solutions to ensure successful air
transport
General vs. Special Cargo
Cargo Services Conference
Live Animals and Perishables Board
Time and Temperature Task Force
Primarily for pharmaceuticals includes mfgs and ngos
LAPB
Has advisory groups other associations
Plus an LAPB Animal Care Team (Bill is on this)
Live Animal Regulation (LAR)
IATA standards not set in isolation
Get info from other interested parties
Container reqs are minimum specifications
Construction
Preparations before dispatch
Food and water, incl. emergency F&W
General care and loading

Chapter 12 devoted to lab animals
CR 84 container specs for SPF rodents
There are variations for countries, and for
specific air carriers

Crossing international borders
Animal Reception Centre @ Heathrow
City of London Corporation
Local govmt has responsibility for law enforcement
of animal health and welfare
BIP border inspection post
Most consignments pet D and C
Lab animals small % - actually easier to deal with

Have gotten pressure from AR groups
regarding lab animal transport
Few commercial airlines carry now
EU Directives (require national legislation to
follow) and Regulations (are EU laws in and of
themselves)
BIP limit entry INTO EU, then allow free
movement within EU
Common Vet Entry Document (CVED) allows the
movement
BIP staff are contract employees, but vets are
govmt employees
3 checks documentation, identification (#s of boxes),
physical
TRACES database that tracks and notifies about animal
importation
CVED common veterinary entry document
London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt awesome animal
facilities with separated areas
Most BIPs have shared storage facilities
Some BIPS 24/7, others limited hours, and vets
may not be there at all times BIPs are open
We need BIPs that accept O (others) for species
Transit from one city to another
Transhipment
Traveling through
It is subject to EU regs, although if it stays on same
plane, may not be addressed
Journey Plan
Req for other species, but not LAs, but not a bad idea
Contingency plans
Go by road
Labels address and contact details, esp. final
destination
Airlines will pass problems on to land shippers
Land shippers need to be prepared for contingencies
Cardboard boxes dont work well in rain
Problems
Paperwork (DVMs) are big problem
Airlines lose paperwork so provide certified copies
Stick in empty compartment of a box
Poor boxes will delay consignment
Airlines held resp. for poor boxes (mostly pet D&C)
Overcrowded boxes
Heavy boxes crush the bottom box
Tracking typically done well
Temperature, esp. top boxes

No national policy on airlines required to
carry cargo
Alternatives to commercial air transport?
Cost/benefit analyses?
Limit to direct shipments will be problematic, and
resultant multi-leg transports will be more
challenging to the animals
GMOs are NOT dangerous goods
Training at smaller airports
3
rd
party providers w/high turnover rates
Academia - what are they doing?
Typically ground air-ground
How enforceable are IATA regulations?
2004 IATA regulations are enforced in EU
APHIS and USFW do use it, as does Canada
China may be adopting
Prob with IATAs are that they change regularly
Land Transport
Lots of categories of freight carriers
Some carriers do use multiple modes
Parcel/express
FEDEX and UPS
May take LAs
Couriers may act as air freight forwarders
Specialty couriers
Company vehicles
Some of which are T controlled
On-demand carriers
On a request basis
May be able to handle animals
Pricing is typically high
Distance is a cost factor
Less-than-truckload
Typically dont handle live animals
Gen the food/bedding delivery system
Inbound carrier
3PL third party logistics provider helps
manage multi-leg shipments

Ground transport of LAs in US
Infectious live animals
Almost NEVER shipped Hazardous Cargo
Regulatory agencies
Bob incl. IATA because every flight has 2 ground
components
USDA
Carriers typically treat rats and mice as if they were
regulated by USDA, due to mixed shipments
SPF cartons must remain sealed
So shipper must provide enough f&w to complete shipment
and then some
Try for 45 min or less transfer period to reduce exposure to
direct sunlight and temp control
USDA and IATA container reqs
Very similar
Suitable size, clean, labelling
Cargo space reqs
Clean, fresh air, temp controlled (45-85oF)
Bob feels this range is too wide his company goes
for 55-60oF since temps in animal box will be
higher
Disaster plan
DOT has safety regs for carriers
They will shut carriers down
Some straight-line runs, but typically hub-and-spoke
Hot-shot straight emergency run
like a taxi very expensive
Team operated runs
Live shipments need dual refrigeration systems
Tighter temp control +/- 5oF
Humidity control 40-70%, byproduct of T control
Remote temp monitoring and GPS tracking
Cell phones
Special practices and procedures to ensure regs are followed
Trained personnel
Drivers are DOT regulated; subject to 70 hours per week, with req rest
times and break times
No-touch drivers are more prevalent, which is a problem for the animal
ground shipment industry

Air freight forwarders
Most global, some regional
Some will handle live animals
Contract with local delivery vehicles.
Some are customs brokers
Some just handle booking , other go door-to-door
Ground
Dedicated contract carrier
Large breeders have own fleet
CDC reviewed NHP regs
Reg improvements associated with hemorrhagic
fever viruses (Admits CDC is reactive)
Marburg in 1960s
Ebola-Reston in 1989
4/16/2013
Consolidated all NHP-related documents (MMWRs,
guidelines)
Also not a fan of NHPs on charter flights
USDA
Note all agencies must work together to get
these things done
Guidance document #1103
Permit VS 17-129
Lots of inclusions, and some exclusions
Plant Protection and Quarantine
Food and bedding can carry infectious agents that
pose a risk to our agriculture and forestry
USDA
Animal Care
AWA AWR AC Resource Guide Policies
Carriers and Intermed Handlers must be
registered
New rule on importation of live dogs effective
11/14/2014
Req an import permit
Health certificate in each dog
Submit evidence why dogs dont follow rules (age or
vaccination history) e.g., an approved IACUC protocol

USDA
Animal Care
Do for-cause inspection of imports
Always call local VMO or Regional Office for
info

State regs - anim care & emerg resp for VA
Reg entry INTO that state most exempt thru-
transit, but someimes not for ag animals
Exceptions for research animals, but these
protections are under increased scrutiny

State Laws
VA definition of companion animal unbelievably
broad, but research animals are separate
Ex rabbits can be in all 4 categories
All other Ag animals stay as Ag Animasls regardless of
use/purpose
Research animsl in a research facility under an
IACUC protocol
Teaching is NOT included as research
So there are very FEW instances of transport of research
animals, because they are not in the research facility
they then become Companion animals or Ag animals
VA laws for companion animals
Adequate feed
Water
Shelter
Space
Exercise
Care, Tx, and transport
Veterinary care
Pecific reuirements have lengthy definitions and
requirements
Transportation of CAs generally matches USDA
AWR
Major exception must be enclosed cargo space
Also vet certificate requires licensed and
accredited
Canids and felids > 4 mos vaccinated for rabies
State vet can waive any aspect of the CA or AgA
reqs by permit for animals imported by a USDA
licensed research facility if they would be
detrimental to the research program. Waiver
permit is issued to the recipient facility
Follow non-research animal rules for each
species if at all possible (facilitates import and
transport)

Efforts are being made to get somwe permit
and inspection forms electrionic. CDC and
USFW seem to be further ahead.
Animals can be stuck at import locations for
more than an hour what happens to the
animals?
DKs big 4 aspects
Maintain Health
Minimize stress
Shortest duration
Reg compliance
What, where, when, and how?
Are frozen embryos or sperm available?
So much easier to transfer germplasm (a biological material)
Health any physical conditions that may impact travel?
Will consignee accept health status?
Mode of transport
Typically air or ground
Looking for quickest and most direct route with minimal # of
transfers
If Air
Environmental control of holding and aircraft cargo
areas
Minimal time between holding and loading
Last on first off
Cargo area accessible during flight?
Veterinary care plan?
If Ground
Redundant HVAC and power?
GPS tracking?
Is cargo area easily sanitizable?
Emergency vet and service plan?

An Carriers, Brokers, Int. Handlers
Handle some or all aspects of transport
Can be very helpful and knowledgeable
Review training and experience rel to your species
Assure reg, permits, and licensure
Procedures for monitoring during transit
What are contingency plans
DK likes a actual written journey plan (often
required in UK)
Calendar seasons and holidays
Weather for all phases of the travel
Lots of forms and permits
Language
Send correct # of original copies (sign in blue ink)
Affix originals as necessary
Appropriate crate to meet IATA (and other) guidelines
Separation
With the crate
Animal identification
Bedding
Food and water (2x expected duration)
Proper labelling
Direct contact phone #s
Observation, feed, and water log
Not req., but a good idea
Proper PPE for all handlers
Emergency Rescue Network
Endorsed by IATA
Ground transportation network
Vet med network