1028 
ANIMAL RESOURCES 
Toronto A26/61 canine adenovirus have 
been initiated in hamster embryo cell 
cultures. The eventual purpose of these 
experiments v^^as to determine whether 
this virus, which is oncogenic in ham- 
sters, could induce neoplasia in its nat- 
ural host, the dog, and subsequently, in 
a pilot experiment in immunologically 
incompetent subhuman primates. 
4. The effect of sulfur dioxide on the sus- 
ceptibility of mice to influenza virus. 
These studies have been done coop- 
eratively with other investigators using 
specific grant funds as the primary fi- 
nancial support. The diagnostic labora- 
tory provided technical and profes- 
sional assistance primarily in the area 
of histology. A manuscript of the re- 
sults of these studies has been sub- 
mitted for publication. 
C. Teaching and Training 
Although the Department of Experimental 
Animal Medicine does not currently have a for- 
mal training program in laboratory animal 
medicine, formal courses are taught by the de- 
partmental faculty for the benefit of graduate 
students and biomedical scientists in general. 
Courses off"ered in this subject area are : Dis- 
eases of Laboratory Animals, The Laboratory 
Mouse, Marine Mammal Medicine, The Labora- 
tory Primate, and Animal Models and Compara- 
tive Pathology in Biomedical Research. The 
diagnostic laboratory has provided resource ma- 
terial and slides for these courses as well as 
active participation by the professional per- 
sonnel in classroom lectures. 
In addition to teaching formal courses, the 
day-to-day operation of the diagnostic labora- 
tory provides many occasions for informal edu- 
cation and training. The discussion of post- 
mortem findings with investigators often results 
in an opportunity to provide new information 
to the investigator. Consultation has been pro- 
vided to a number of graduate students relative 
to animal models and comparative pathology, 
techniques for using animals in research, and 
disease problems encountered in their research 
animals. Tome very rewarding experiences have 
evolved from such contact with graduate stu- 
dents. The following quotation is from the 
acknowledgments section of one student's 
thesis 
"It is impossible to mention all of the in- 
volved individuals here, but a few stand 
out. Dr. Ellis Giddens (our veterinary pa- 
thologist) was responsible for making me 
aware of the ovine disease. His help did not 
end at this point, however, for he continued 
to assist me in obtaining the animals needed 
for the study, autopsying the animals, pre- 
paring the material from the animals for 
study, and giving advice whenever re- 
quested. His attitude was epitomized the 
night he came to the laboratory at one 
o'clock in the morning to help me autopsy 
our last sheep so we could get our samples 
before autolysis set in . . . The staff of the 
Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department 
of Experimental Animal Medicine provided 
technical assistance in the autopsies of the 
sheep, the preparation of the microscopic 
sections, and the performance of the clini- 
cal chemistry tests". 
The appreciation expressed by this individual 
for services performed by our laboratory in as- 
sisting him, emphasizes the contribution we 
have been able to make to education and train- 
ing. This example also emphasizes the value 
to comparative medicine of a facility such as 
our diagnostic laboratory which is staffed by 
outstanding professional personnel. 
SUIVIMARY 
A retrospective view indicates that during 
the first three years of existence, our Diagnostic 
Laboratory had a great deal of success in meet- 
ing the objectives for which it was intended. 
Numerous contributions have been made to the 
animal health care programs of the Vivarium 
and University at large. Many research projects 
have profited considerably from the services we 
were able to provide. Graduate students have 
been assisted in research projects because of 
our input in comparative pathology and bio- 
medical models. With this type of success in per- 
formance, we believe we have more than justi- 
