Lecture 21 - 22

What are the 3Rs in animal research?

Replace, Reduce, Refine.

What is social license

Refers to something that we do that is socially acceptable and we're permitted to do it because the public and society feels that it is worthy enough of being done, even if there are potential harms or disadvantages to some groups or in this case, animals.

What is public trust

The social license to continue research

What are 5 disadvantages and 5 advantages of animal research and teaching

Ad:

1. Help cure diseases

2. New vaccines

3. Better understanding of biology

4. Improved medical procedures

Translation of knowledge to human physiology

Dis:

1. Animal suffering and euthanasia

2. Cost and resource allocation

3. Ethical concerns from the public

4. Results may have no benefit

5. Strict regulations in some countries

What are the current frameworks used to assess animal welfare?

The 5 Domains framework = nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state.

Describe one negative and positive condition for each of the 5 domains

Nutrition: pos = balanced diet, neg = restricted water intake

Environment: pos = spacious habitat, neg = cramped living conditions

Health: pos = minimal or no injury, neg = untreated illnesses

Behaviour: pos = opportunities for playing, neg = animal-animal activity is constrained

Mental state: pos = pleasure or comfort, neg = anxiety

What must Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) ensure regarding applications?

They must review and approve only ethical, humane, and justified applications.

What are the categories of the animal ethics committee

• A – Veterinarian

• B – Researcher/Teacher

• C – Animal Welfare representative

• D – Lay person

What does the AEC assess

• Welfare standards

• Scientific validity

• Animal monitoring & care

• Cumulative burden

• Harm/benefit analysis

• Training/competence of personnel

• Full details of procedures

• Final fate of animals

What is an endpoint in the context of animal experiments?

An experimental endpoint is the study's end point, while a humane endpoint is where stress or pain requires removal from the study.

What constitutes the cumulative burden in animal studies?

The total impact or burden throughout the study or the animal's lifetime.

What is the final fate of animals used in research?

They may be rehomed, humanely euthanized, returned to the owner, released to the wild, sent to an abattoir, etc.

What key aspect ensures good animal welfare and outcomes in research?

Proper monitoring and veterinary care. good welfare, detection of issues, record keeping, knowing normal vs abnormal, choosing relevent monitor indications and equipment, early intervention

What does the term 'biosecurity' in lab animal management refer to?

It is the approach to analyze and manage risks to human, animal, plant, and environmental health.

What is the BSL 1-4 system used for ?

The Biosafety Level (BSL) 1-4 system categorizes laboratories based on their containment practices, corresponding to the level of risk associated with various pathogens and biological agents.

Briefly describe the different conditions between BSL 1, BSL 2, BSL 3 and BSL 4

BSL 1 involves minimal risk agents, suitable for work with well-characterized agents that do not cause disease in healthy adults.

BSL 2 includes agents that pose moderate hazards, using precautions such as limited access and biological safety cabinets.

BSL 3 is for high-risk agents that can cause serious illness via inhalation, requiring controlled access and specialised equipment.

BSL 4 deals with dangerous, exotic agents posing high risks such as fatalities with often no treatment or vaccine

What aspects make up good animal facilities, management and care

Good welfare = Good research and teaching

Staff Competent → SOPs and processes

Appropriate and maintained equipment and infrastructure

Appropriate work flow, processes and design

Good work culture and staffed appropriately

Continuously improving and upskilling

What defines good animal facility design

Different entry and exit points, having an anteroom and clean corridor to ensure nothing dirty is brought into the lab, one way flows, multiple rooms to separate animals, sterilisation areas before and after the lab 

What involves daily monitoring of your animal care and management

• Check Health/Wellbeing (ie, teeth)

• Food, water, cage enclosures clean

• Experimental status/checks

• Pre/post teaching checks

What involves import and export of animals

• Check health status is confirmed

• Animal check/container check for transport

• Quarantine before entry

• Sign off as appropriate

What is rat tickling used for in laboratory animals

It is a method used to induce a state of positive emotional response or playfulness in rats, commonly applied to assess welfare and behavioral elements.

What is rederivation

The process where fertilized embryos are removed from pregnant females mice and transferred to foster mothers free of disease

• Dams are humanely killed under general anaesthetics in the process

• Foster mothers are implanted with embryos

Used as a last resort to save valuable lines and genetics

What are some common adverse events that can occur in lab animals?

Fighting in rodents due to social dynamics

Malocclusion – rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs

Irradiated and autoclaved food can lose nutritional value if not supplemented correctly

Misadventure and injuries

Lumps and bumps (mice and rats mostly due to aging colonies)