The Main Aspects of Infecting Laboratory Animals with Pathogenic Biological Agents of Groups I–II in Accordance with the Requirements of Biological Safety

• Published in: Проблемы особо опасных инфекций
• Main Authors: E. V. Kislitsina, V. G. Germanchuk, M. V. Gordeeva, T. A. Malyukova, E. V. Sazanova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Federal Government Health Institution, Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe” 2025-10-01
• Subjects: biological safety; laboratory animals; pathogenic biological agents of groups i–ii; methods of infection; biological risk
• Online Access: https://journal.microbe.ru/jour/article/view/2206
• ISSN: 0370-1069; 2658-719X

The use of laboratory animals plays an important role in diagnostic, experimental and production work. Special attention is currently being paid to compliance with the rules of biological safety, which is a crucial aspect when working with laboratory animals infected with pathogenic biological agents (PBAs) of groups I–II. Every researcher needs to have practical skills when infecting laboratory animals, as well as knowledge of the specifics of each method of infection. The main document regulating the right of legal entities to operate with the agents of particularly dangerous infections in the Russian Federation is SanPiN 3.3686-21 “Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for prevention of infectious diseases”, as well as regulatory and methodological documents and instructions related to safety issues when working with PBA. Sanitary requirements define organizational, sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive), engineering and technical measures that ensure personal and collective safety and environmental protection. The analysis of the current legislative, regulatory and methodological framework governing the specifics of working with experimental animals infected with PBA will make it possible to take into account all the risks of biological hazard to humans and the environment in a timely manner. An important role is played by the competence of the staff, which is necessary to reduce the biological risks of infecting laboratory animals.