Which method is the preferred method of eliminating mouse parvovirus from a colony?

• A. Heat treatment
• B. Quarantine only
• C. Embryo derivation
• D. Antibiotics

Answer: (C)

Rederivation through embryo derivation is the most reliable way to eliminate mouse parvovirus because MPV is hardy and easily persists in the environment and through dams to offspring. Simply quarantining or treating the colony, or using antibiotics, does not remove a viral infection, and heat or other inactivation methods are not dependable for MPV. Embryo derivation bypasses the contaminated dam and environment by harvesting embryos from MPV-tested negative donors and placing them into pathogen-free surrogate dams. The resulting offspring are MPV-free, allowing the colony to be reestablished with the same genetic line while minimizing the risk of reintroducing the virus. This approach addresses both vertical and horizontal transmission routes and is the standard method for restoring a clean colony.