Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for improved hygienic monitoring of individually ventilated caging (IVC) rack systems for laboratory animals and method for contamination-free removal of biological samples from unwanted organisms from the IVC-rack system. The device allows the performance of sampling operations on a ventilated shelving system in a safe and effective manner, without interfering with the ventilation air flow. The method of the invention allows the removal and transfer of the biological sample from inside the IVC-rack in a contamination-free manner by enabling a safe transfer of the sample from inside the IVC-rack system to any further processing procedure for analysis of the biological sample outside the IVC-rack system. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device which is adapted to be used also on existing ventilated shelving systems, allowing the refitting of existing IVC-rack systems.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for improved hygienic monitoring of individually ventilated caging (IVC) rack systems for laboratory animals and method for contamination-free removal of biological samples from unwanted organisms from the IVC-rack system. The device allows the performance of sampling operations on a ventilated shelving system in a safe and effective manner, without interfering with the ventilation air flow. The method of the invention allows the removal and transfer of the biological sample from inside the IVC-rack in a contamination-free manner by enabling a safe transfer of the sample from inside the IVC-rack system to any further processing procedure for analysis of the biological sample outside the IVC-rack system. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device which is adapted to be used also on existing ventilated shelving systems, allowing the refitting of existing IVC-rack systems.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a cage rack system for animals, particularly for laboratory animals. This system can accommodate or comprises a plurality of cages ventilated individually or in groups. At least the majority of the cages comprise at least one air-inlet and at least one air-outlet. The cages can be selected according to the race, size, the number and/or conditions of the animals. The invention further comprises an air guidance system for delivering air to the air-inlet and/or collecting air from the air-outlet with integral or separated conduits. Further, there is provided at least one sampling unit for collecting airborne particles from the air; the sampling unit being adapted to collect the airborne particles by a cyclonic flow path to cause a separation of the particles from the air. The sampling unit can have one or more components and can be arranged for analysing, evaluating, controlling and/or monitoring the incoming air and/or the outgoing air.

Abstract: The device for punching out a tissue sample comprises a receiving container for receiving the tissue sample, with a container closure element which can be inserted into the receiving container in order to close said receiving container, the container closure element having a punch aperture, and with a clip which is connected to the container closure element and carries a punch that can be lowered with an exact fit into the punch aperture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel form of the PHGPx protein, the sperm nuclei glutathione peroxidase (snGPx) as well as portions thereof playing a role in mammalian spermatogenesis, and to the nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention further relates to vectors containing said nucleic acid and to host cells transformed by these vectors. Furthermore the invention comprises antibodies specific for the above proteins/peptides as well as the use of the proteins/peptides in the diagnosis or therapy of male infertility.

Abstract: IVC rack system comprising a plurality of IVC cages 13 for test animals which are supplied with sterile air, wherein samples of exhaust air from the IVC cages 13 are supplied from sampling points 15 to at least one sentinel cage 24 housing sentinel animals as bio-indicators for the detection of infectious particles within the exhaust air samples, and to at least one particle sampling filter 33 for the identification of pathogens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for health monitoring of aquatic species in aquacultures comprising a plurality of containments (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) for aquatic species, wherein a sample of used water from at least one containment is supplied from at least one sample point (A, B, C, . . . , N) to at least one sentinel containment housing sentinel aquatic species as bio-indicators for the detection of infectious particles and/or chemical factors and/or physical factors in said supplied water sample.