Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Germfree animals are also known as what?

1. Pathogen-free animals

2. Axenic animals

3. Quarantine animals

4. Control animals

The correct answer is: Axenic animals

Germfree animals are known as axenic animals because they are raised in a completely sterile environment, free of all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This unique status allows researchers to study the effects of the absence of these organisms on the health and physiology of the animals. The term "axenic" specifically refers to organisms or environments that are devoid of any foreign living organisms, which is why germfree animals are correctly classified as axenic. This classification is critical in biomedical research, particularly in studies focused on the microbiome, immune response, and disease processes. While pathogen-free animals and control animals are related concepts in animal research, they do not describe the absence of all microorganisms like axenic animals do. Quarantine animals refer to animals that are kept in isolation to prevent the spread of disease but are not necessarily germfree.