• Abstract

    Rats are still often used in vital areas of biological study. Animal management, behavior, compliance and technical processes directly relevant to research projects are just a few of the many duties placed on the shoulders of those conducting such studies. This study was designed to fill a gap in the literature by providing a rapid reference source for researchers and animal care takers responsible for the care and/or usage of rats in research settings, since no prior study has detailed the death rate of experimental rats. A total of 103 adult wister albino rats, aged (12-15) weeks, were included in this study. The rats were subjected to orthodontic treatment using a metal spring coil measuring 6 mm in length, with force of 100 gm. to induce tooth movement. The experimental study involved a total of 56 rats, with 47 rats being excluded from the study due to mortality during the course of the study. The total death rate was determined. The greatest fatality rate was found to be 32%, and it was caused by rats related factors. The anesthetic death rate was 23%. The mortality rate in a controlled laboratory environment was 26%. The lowest cause of death rate was found to be the environmental factors at 19%. To maintain the reliability and repeatability of study results, it is crucial to implement a health monitoring programme for the experimental rat, whose death rate may be significantly impacted by factors such as biological diversity, stress, and an exhausted mechanism.

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Abdul-Hameed, H. A., & Saloom, H. F. (2024). The main causative factor of increased mortality rate in experimental rat. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6(8), 2024130. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2024130
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