The dangers of working in labs with animals will be minimised if the following precautions are taken:
1. Wash all dissection instruments in disinfectant after use.
2. Never eat seeds or parts of plants provided for study as they may have been treated with toxic fungicides. Never store foodstuffs in the same refrigerator where dissected specimens, serum, microbiological cultures or other biological materials are stored. (You should never bring food or drink into the lab anyway).
3. Do not let wild birds or mammals into the laboratory as they can carry and transmit diseases fatal to man. Examples of such diseases include psittacosis from wild birds. Monkeys and other primates may be carriers of hookworm, rabies and B-virus infection; and lab rats are a frequent source of salmonella poisoning. Most wild mammals are infected with fleas and other pests and can carry flukes, tapeworms and other parasites.
4. Wash the area where the dissection was performed with disinfectant. Autoclave all bacteriological and fungal cultures before disposal.
5. Always wash your hands before leaving the lab or after handling experimental animals or materials of biological origin.