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Rodent Identification I

Overview

Source: Kay Stewart, RVT, RLATG, CMAR; Valerie A. Schroeder, RVT, RLATG. University of Notre Dame, IN

A fundamental requirement of biomedical research is the proper identification of research animals. It is essential that the right animal is utilized for procedures and data collection. Laboratory mice and rats can be identified with the following permanent methods: ear tags, ear punch codes, microchip implantation, tail tattoos for adult mice, and toe tattoos for neonates. Temporary methods of dyes and marking pens can also be used for acute studies. This video covers the technical aspects of ear tagging and punching for mice and rats, as well as the benefits of each with respect to the type of research being conducted on the animals. Knowledge of the basic manual restraint techniques for each animal (covered in a separate video) is required for these identification methods to be properly accomplished.

Principles

Ear tags are inexpensive and easy to perform, and as a result are commonly used for the identification of individual mice and rats. Tags can be custom-made with a series of numbers and/or letters. Assigning specific codes to a mouse/rat strain, or to a Principle Investigator (PI), aides in recordkeeping and database management, especially in large breeding colonies where there are multiple strains and PIs. In addition, there are a variety of tags commercially available. Metal tags have characters etched on them. Although this etching is clear, when working with a mouse it is often necessary to pick it up in order to read the code on the tags due to the small size of the tags. Other options are plastic tags with either numbers and/or letters on brightly colored backgrounds, or plastic tags with a barcode on the front surface. Both of these options allow the tags to be read without having to handle the animals. Another advantage to plastic tags is their compatibility with MRI imaging.

The positioning of the tag on the ear is critical, as improper positioning can have several unfortunate consequences. Tags must be placed such that they do not cause a bend in the pinna, interfere with the animal's mobility, or catch on any part of the caging. If the tag is placed too close to the edge of the ear it can easily be torn from the pinna tissue. If positioned too close to the head, the skin of the neck area can catch in the tag, which will create irritation, pain, and restricted movement. This can then lead to self-trauma from the animal scratching at the tag, ripping it from the ear, or getting a foot caught in the tag. Training for proper placement and technique is essential.1

While tags provide individual identifiers for mice or rats, they are not infallible. Tags can be lost due to fighting, over-grooming, dermatitis in susceptible strains, infection, or self-trauma.2 Adult rats in particular are less tolerant of ear tags and often remove them, inflicting self-trauma. The more aggressive breeding behavior in rats can also lead to an ear tag being torn from the pinna. If mice or rats are paired or group-housed, the loss of an ear tag on more than one animal can be troublesome. To circumvent this problem, a secondary form of identification-such as a punch code used on the ear opposite of the tag, or a tail or toe tattoo-should be utilized. A facility should standardize both the choice of ear to be tagged and the code to be used on the other ear or on the toes. All codes should be indicated on the cage card.

The use of ear punch codes allows for a quick and simple method of identification, but the technique has limitations. Commonly used codes have an upper limit for numbers available for use, usually a maximum of 100 to 399. To read the ear punch codes, most animals must be grasped at the scruff. The punches can double as tissue samples for PCR genotyping, which allows for animal identification and genotype sampling to be accomplished simultaneously. This results in less stress to the animals from repeat handling.3

There are three styles of ear punches: the scissor punch, the thumb punch, and the lever punch. Although all are equally effective, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. For example, as rats age, the skin of their ears thickens. It is best to perform the ear punches on young rats as they are weaned. For adult rats that require identification, the use of inhalant anesthesia should be considered. Ergonomically, the level punch is easier to use than a thumb punch, especially for the thicker ears of older rats. However, both of these punches require a pinching motion of the fingers. The scissor punch has the ergonomic advantage of not requiring a pinching motion, thus avoiding carpal tunnel fatigue and injury. In contrast, the thumb punch is advantageous for collecting genotyping samples, as the tips with the tissue material will fit into an Eppendorf tube. The style of punch to use should be determined by the individuals performing the task and the age of the rats.

For rats, although metal tags are most often used, studies have shown that there are consequences to using them. Inflammation, neoplastic changes, and even chronic pain have been observed in animals that have worn metal ear tags for several months.3,4,5,6 The tags should be promptly removed from the ear if there is an adverse reaction, and the subsequent injury should be examined and treated, if necessary, by the veterinary staff.

Proper care and maintenance of punches will extend their usage. All types of punches will dull if autoclaved, so it is recommended to clean them with a disinfectant and rinse them with alcohol. Then, they must be thoroughly dried to prevent rusting. If the punches are used for PCR, they should be soaked for 3 minutes in a solution that removes residual DNA or RNA. Before use they are rinsed in alcohol and wiped dry.

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Procedure

1. Ear punch identification

Ear punch codes have been developed as a quick and inexpensive method to label individual animals. There are three styles of ear punches: the scissor punch, the thumb punch, and the lever punch. The animal's right ear is used for single digits, the left ear for tens, and the middle of the ears for hundreds.

  1. Restrain the animal so that the ears are easily accessible. Most mice are ear tagged for individual identification at weaning. This requires gentle handling due to their smaller, more fragile size. Some mice are less likely to struggle if the hind limbs can rest on a surface such as a cage top or a counter top.
  2. Determine the ear punches needed to correspond to the animal's experimental number or to identify it within a cage.
    1. Punches will be notches or holes depending on the code used.
    2. The last number on the ear tag is often used as the ear punch identifier when it is the secondary method of identification.
    3. If animals are on a short-term study in stable cage groups, they can be given sequential numbers. This is often done when there are no ear tags present.
  3. Make the ear punch.
    1. To make a notch, the punch is placed on the edge of the ear pinna.
    2. To make a hole, place the ear in the punch so that the hole of the punch is positioned away from the pinna margin in the desired position.
    3. Apply pressure to the thumb or lever punch, or close the scissor punch quickly and firmly to cut through the skin of the ear.
    4. Gently lift the punch away from the ear when using the thumb or lever punches. Open the scissor punch to remove it from the ear.
    5. Avoid pulling or twisting the punch to prevent tearing the ear.
    6. Punches do dull after time. Should a punch fail to cut through the ear, release the punch and select a new ear punch. Reposition the new punch in the same spot.
  4. Clean the punches after each use.
    1. All punch types will dull if autoclaved. It is recommended that they be cleaned with a disinfectant and rinsed with alcohol. Dry them thoroughly to prevent rusting.
    2. Ear punches to be used for PCR are routinely soaked for 3 minutes in a solution to remove residual DNA or RNA. Before use they are rinsed in alcohol and wiped dry.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Ear punching in mice using scissor punch.

2. Ear tag identification

Customized ear tags can be ordered from manufacturers with alphabetical and/or numerical codes, which allows for the differentiation of mouse strains or investigators. Ear tags can be made of metal or plastic.

  1. Select the ear tags appropriate for the animals to be identified. There are several styles of appliers available from ear tag manufacturers. Be sure to order the applier that is for the specific size and style of ear tags being used.
  2. Gently remove a tag from the cardboard holder, and orient it into the applier so that the end with the hole is positioned over the notched area of the applier. The pointed end of the tag should be opposite the notch.
  3. Restrain the animal so that the ears are easily accessible. Animals may be less likely to struggle if the hind limbs can rest on a surface, such as a cage top or a counter top.
  4. Properly position the ear tag for placement.
    1. Position the point of the ear tag as deeply in the concha of the ear as possible, so the tag numbers face the back of the animal.
    2. To have the ear tag numbers facing the nose of the animal, place the point of the tag at the base of the pinna on the back of the ear.
  5. Apply the tag.
    1. Firmly squeeze the applier closed. The ear tag will pierce the ear and lock together.
    2. Release the applier, and the tagged ear will fall out of the applier.

Figure 2
Figure 2. A mouse with an ear tag that is properly positioned on the pinna.

  1. Remove the metal ear tags.
    NOTE: On occasion, metal ear tags can cause irritation and swelling of the ear. The swelling and irritation often leads to infections of the pinna. Treatment should include the removal of the tag; however, in cases of severe irritation or infection, the animal may need to be anesthetized.
    1. Remove debris from around the tag with a cotton-tipped applicator moistened with an antiseptic solution.
    2. Cut across the top of the tag loop from edge-to-edge with wire cutters. Do not cut across the flat surface, as this will compress the tag, pinch the ear, and cause further damage.
    3. Avoid applying torque while cutting to prevent tearing the ear.
  2. Use hemostats to spread the cut ends of the ear tag apart.
    1. Gently guide the ear tag through-and out of-the ear using hemostats. Reduce trauma by avoiding the enlargement of the piercing hole and slipping the tag out so that the crimped end does not pass through the ear.
    2. Once the tag is gone, wipe the ear with an antiseptic-soaked cotton applicator stick.
    3. If there is a purulent discharge from the ear, follow-up treatment may be necessary and consultation with the veterinary staff for assessment is recommended.

Proper identification of lab animals is a fundamental requirement of biomedical research. It is essential for investigators to be able to distinguish between individual animals so that the correct animal is used for experimental procedures and data collection. Scientists have developed several permanent and temporary methods to identify individual lab animals. Here, we are going to discuss the two most commonly used methods: ear tagging and ear punching.

Before delving into the procedure for ear punching, let's introduce the ear punch code, the types of punches available, and discuss the benefits and disadvantages of this method. As you might have guessed, ear punching involves punching a hole or a notch in the animal's external ear or pinna. In order to standardize this method, universal ear punch codes have been developed.

Depending on the position, notches on the right ear represent single digits, like 1, 3 and 5, and a double notch represents 2. Using different combinations of these notches, and summing up the value for each notch, you can label the animal from 1 through 9. Similarly, on the left ear, the same notches represent the tens. And again, different combinations will cover the range of 10 through 90. Holes in the center of the right and left pinna represent 100 and 200, respectively. And holes in both indicate 300. Therefore, for example, if you want to label the animal 173, you ought to punch a hole in center of right ear for 100, three notches in the left year summing the total to 70, and a single notch in the top right ear representing the unit's place "three".

Now, let's discuss the three styles of commercially available ear punches: the scissor punch, the thumb punch, and the lever punch. Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages.

The thumb punch requires a pinching motion, but is small enough to fit into an Eppendorf tube so that the ear tissue can be more easily collected. Ergonomically, the lever punch is easier to use than thumb punch, especially for the thicker ears of the older rats. The scissor punch does not require a pinching motion, thus avoiding carpal tunnel fatigue and injury.

In spite of being a quick and simple method of identification, ear punching does have some limitations. First, the ear punch code discussed above has an upper limit of 399, which may limit the use of this method in some large-scale studies. Another limitation is that most animals must be grasped at the scruff in order to read the code, thus increasing the times they are handled. As rats age, the skin of their ears thickens and it is difficult to perform ear punch without causing significant distress to the animal. Therefore, it is best to perform the ear punches on young rats as they are weaned. For adult rats that require identification, the use of inhalant anesthesia should be considered when performing ear punches.

Now that you have some background information about the ear punch code and the types of tools available, let's learn how to perform this technique in mice.

Before starting the procedure, it is recommended that punching tools be cleaned with a disinfectant solution,rinsed with alcohol, and dried thoroughly. Avoid autoclaving the ear punches, as it will eventually dull them.

To begin, decide the animal's experimental code and the punch to be used. Let's use the code 173 and scissor punch as examples here. The same procedure is applicable to any other code or punch. When you are ready, restrain the animal by grasping it at the scruff so that the ears are easily accessible. Start with the hole for 100. Place the right ear in the punch so that the hole of the punch is positioned away from the pinna margin. Next, apply pressure to close the scissor quickly and firmly to cut through the skin. Then, release the punch and remove it from the ear. Avoid pulling or twisting the punch to prevent tearing the ear. To make a notch, place the punch on the edge of the ear pinna at the correct spot, in this case at the top of the right ear for the "three" in the code's unit place, and do the same - apply quick and firm pressure and then open the scissor to remove it. Repeat the same procedure on the other ear to punch three notches - two for "20" near the outer corner and one for "50" near the inner corner, totaling the code to "70".

Confirm that the correct code was punched before adding the animal back to the cage. Again, clean the punch with a disinfectant, rinse with alcohol and dry it thoroughly to prevent rusting.

Now, let's move on to ear tagging, which is another inexpensive and easy-to-perform method for the individual identification of mice and rats. There are a variety of commercially available ear tags. These include: metal tags that have a series of numbers and/or letters etched on them, and plastic tags with characters or barcodes on brightly colored backgrounds.

One disadvantage of metal tags is that it is often necessary to pick up the animal in order to read the code. In contrast, plastic tags are easy to read without having to handle the animals. Another advantage to plastic tags is their compatibility with MRI imaging. While the tags provide an individual identifier for a mouse or rat, they are not infallible. Tags can be lost due to over-grooming, dermatitis or infection, self-trauma inflicted trying to remove tags due to intolerance, fighting, and aggressive breeding behavior. If several animals are housed in the same cage, the loss of an ear tag can be troublesome. To circumvent this problem, a secondary form of identification such as a punch code on the ear opposite of the tag should be utilized. A facility should standardize both the choice of ear to be tagged and the code to be used on the other ear, and all codes should be indicated on the cage card.

Now let's learn how to properly apply an ear tag, as incorrect positioning can have several unfortunate consequences. Following application, we will also discuss removal of the ear tag, which is usually performed in case of an infection due to the tag application.

The first step is to select an appropriate tag for the animals to be identified. Here, we will use a metal tag to demonstrate the procedure on mice. Be sure to order the applier that is appropriate for the specific size and style of ear tags being used. Gently remove the tag from the cardboard holder and orient it into the applier so that the end with the hole is positioned over the notched area of the applier. The pointed end of the tag should be opposite the notch.

When you are ready to apply the ear tag, restrain the animal so that the ears are easily accessible. Animals may be less likely to struggle if the hind limbs can rest on a surface such as the cage top or a counter top. Once the animal is restrained, position the point of the ear tag deeply in the concha of the ear so the tag numbers face the back of the animal. Then, firmly squeeze the applier closed; the ear tag will pierce the ear and lock together. When you release, the tagged ear will fall out of the applier. Confirm that the tag has been properly positioned and applied. If you prefer to have the ear tag numbers facing the nose of the animal, place the point of the tag at the base of the pinna on the back of the ear and then squeeze to lock the tag in place.

Tags must be placed such that they do not cause a bend in the ear, interfere with the animal's mobility, or catch on any part of the caging. If the tag is placed too close to the edge of the ear, it can easily be torn. If positioned too close to the head, the skin of the neck area can catch in the tag, creating irritation, pain, and restricted movement, which can then lead to self-trauma. Occasionally, metal tags can cause irritation and swelling of the ear. This often leads to infections of the pinna, and the immediate treatment should include the removal of the tag.

In order to remove the tag, moisten a cotton-tipped applicator with an antiseptic solution and use it to remove any debris from around the tag. In severe cases of infection, the animal may need to be anesthetized. Then, using wire cutters, cut across the top of the tag loop from edge to edge. Importantly, do not cut across the flat surface as that will compress the tag, pinch the ear, and cause damage to the ear. Using hemostats, gently guide the ear tag through and out of the ear. Slip the tag out so that the crimped end does not pass through causing trauma and enlargement of the piercing hole. Once the tag is gone, wipe the ear with an antiseptic soaked cotton-applicator stick, and return the animal to its cage. If there is a purulent discharge from the ear, follow-up treatment may be necessary and consultation with the veterinary staff for assessment is recommended.

Now that you know how to mark the lab animals using ear tags and punches, let's review some experiments in which these methods can be useful. One major advantage of using ear punch code is that the punches can double as tissue samples for genotyping, thus reducing stress to the animals caused due to repeat handling. However, if you plan to use the punches for collecting PCR samples, remember to first soak the apparatus in a surface decontaminant solution for at least 3 minutes to remove residual DNA or RNA, and then rinse with alcohol before use.

Identification technique's importance increases further if the experiment is lasting over several days. For example, in this experiment the scientists first labeled the animals using a metal tag and then they injected the sciatic nerve with a suspension of transgenic tumor cells expressing luciferase protein. Next, in order to quantify cancer progression, they imaged the animals using bioluminescence at one, ten and eighteen days post injection.

You've just watched JoVE's presentation demonstrating the two commonly used methods of identification in rodents: ear tags and ear punches. You should now understand the ear punch code, know the different types of commercially available rodent ear tags, and should be able to accurately perform these procedures without causing significant animal discomfort.

Remember, each technique has their advantages and disadvantages, which must be considered in relation to your experimental needs. In addition to considering cost, the ease of the technique and the level of pain to the animals should be some of the primary considerations when choosing the appropriate identification method. As always, thanks for watching!

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Applications and Summary

When choosing the appropriate identification method, many factors must be deliberated. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered in relation to the experimental needs. While the costs must be weighed along with other factors, the ease of the technique and the level of discomfort to the animals should be the primary considerations.3,4

Ear punching/notching is commonly used in mice and rats because there is little cost, and the procedure is easily done. There are a limited number of codes that can be used, with most codes having an upper limit of 100 to 399. To read the ear punch codes, most animals must be grasped at the scruff. However, the punches can double as tissue samples for PCR genotyping, which allows for identification and genotype sampling to be accomplished simultaneously, thus resulting in less stress to the animals from repeat handling. 5

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References

  1. Robinson, V., Morton, D.B., Anderson, D., Carver, J.F.A., Francis R.J., Hubrecht, R., Jenkins, E., Mathers, K.E., Raymond, R., Rosewell, I., Wallace, J., and Wells, D.J. 2003. Refinement and reduction in production of genetically modified mice. Laboratory Animals. 37:S1-S50.
  2. Cover, C.E., Keenan, C.M., and Bettinger, G.E. 1989. Ear tag-induced Staphylococcus infection in mice. Laboratory Animals. 23:229-233.
  3. Kitagaki, M., Suwa, T., Yanagi, K., and Shiratori, K. 2003. Auricle chondritis in young ear-tagged Crj:CD(SD)IGS rats. Laboratory Animals. 37:249-253.
  4. Kasanen, H.E., Voipio, H.M., Leskinen, H., Luodonpää, M., and Nevalainen, T.O. 2011. Comparison of ear tattoo, ear notch and microtattoo in rats undergoing cardiovascular telemetry. Laboratory Animals. 45:154-159.
  5. Dalhborn, K., Bugnon, P., Nevalainen, T., Raspa, M., Verbost, P., and Spangenberg, E. 2013. Report of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations Working Group on animal identification. Laboratory Animals. 47:2-11.
  6. Waalkes, M.P., Rehm, S., Kasprzak, K.S., et al. 1987. Inflammatory, proliferative, and neoplastic lesions at the site of metallic identification ear tags in Wistar [Crl:(WI)BR] rats. Cancer Research. 47:2445-2450.

Transcript

Tags

Rodent Identification Lab Animals Biomedical Research Animal Identification Methods Ear Tagging Ear Punching Ear Punch Code Notch Hole Animal Labeling

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