Table 3.
Water bottle microbial bioburden (total count, in CFU/mL) and aerobic culture results of spout by cage/sample (n) for group- or single-occupied mouse disposable IVCs at standard conditions (mean 72 °F [22.2 °C]) or thermoneutral conditions (TN, mean 82 °F [27.8 °C]) with diced cellulose bedding. Control reads for all time points were 0/negative for microbial bioburden test and culture.
| Temperature | Occupancy (number of cages) | Day(s) After Water Bottle Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 28–30 | |||||||
| Total Count | Spout Culture | Total Count | Spout Culture | Total Count | Spout Culture | Total Count | Spout Culture | Total Count | Spout Culture | ||
| Standard | Group ( n = 2) | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | 1 of 2: Staphylococcus xylosus | 0 | 2 of 2: Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis |
| Single ( n = 2) | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | 2 of 2: S. xylosus | |
| TN | Group ( n = 2) | 0 | - | NT | NT | 0 | - | NT | NT | 0 | - |
| Single( n = 2) | 0 | - | NT | NT | 0 | - | NT | NT | 0 | - | |
Total count = Total aerobic bacteria + total coliform + total fungi
- = Negative; no growth
NT = not taken