Lec 30: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN LABORATORY ANIMAL MEDICINE

Who are Lab animal veterinarians governed by?

The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine

What are Lab animal veterinarians overall responsible for?

The health and welfare of laboratory animals used in biomedical research

What are the sub responsibilities of lab animal vets?

Ensure regulatory compliance

Perform research procedures

Collaborate with scientists and researchers

What is animal research?

Use of animals in scientific research to advance medicine

What are all made possible with the use of animals?

Vaccines, antibiotics, insulin, organ transplants, etc

True or False? Animal research is required before human trials can begin?

True

Except in cosmetics testing and when using known ingredients

First major Law in Animal research?

Cruelty to Animal’s Act, UK 1876

• Required licensing for research

• Introduced regular facility inspections

What was the earliest reference of Animal research?

Aristotle

Dissection of different species

When was the Animal Welfare Act created?

1966

What is the Animal Welfare Act?

Federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research, teaching, exhibition, and transport?

Who is the Animal Welfare Act enforced by?

USDA

Regular inspections of animal facilities

What species does the Animal Welfare Act not cover?

Does not cover cold-blooded animals, birds, rats, mice, or food/farm animals.

Who defined the 3Rs?

Russell & Burch in 1959

What guides the 3Rs?

The practice and regulation of animal research

What are the 3Rs?

Reduction

Replacement

Refinement

Reduction - 3R

Using the smallest amount of animals possible to conduct research

Use statistical models to determine

Replacement - 3R

Using nonanimal methods (cell cultures, organ on a chip, AI, computer models) or “lower” consciousness animals (mice in place of NHPs)

Refinement - 3R

Minimizing any pain or distress that animals may experience

Pain medication, humane, endpoints

What is the essential document that provides the framework for the care and use of animals in research?

The

Examples of things mandated under the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:

Cage sizes, transport requirements, IACUS requirements, etc.

What species does the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals not cover?

Agricultural animals, wildlife, and certain aquatic animals

What organizations must follow The Guide?

All NIH funded and AAALAC accredited institutions

What is the AAALAC?

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) - voluntary accreditation that ensures research is meeting high ethical standards

What is IACUC?

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

What does IACUC oversee?

Any institution’s animal research program

ALL animal research programs must have an IACUC

Who does IACUC report to?

OLAW

Responsibilities of IACUC

Approve and monitors all research protocols (needed to begin research)

Conducts semi annual inspections of all facilities

IACUC Committee requirements

Minimum of 5 members

Must include veterinarians, scientists, a nonscientist and a community member

What species are common animal models?

Mice and rats (make up 95% of research animals)

Zebrafish

Rabbits

Nonhuman primates, dogs, pigs, cats, ferrets, other animals (make up less than 1%)

What is the most common mouse strain used?

C57BL / 6 is the most widely used in research due to its genetic uniformity and specific traits.

Mice are maintained in what type of systems?

Rack systems

IVC system for mice?

Individually ventilated cages

allows for individual environments

Multiple study animals can be housed on the same rack without affecting research outcomes

Research mice are checked how often by personnel?

daily

What is provided in mouse housing?

Nesting material - allow for burrowing & digging

Food & water provided ad lib unless otherwise indicated

Huts & enrichment items

Cage change ever 7-14 days

When changing a mouse cage what must be done to help them adjust?

Must move nesting material to new cage as mice are very scent dependent

What form of housing is most ideal for mice?

Group housing

Can be dependent on research protocol

Male mice often aggressive

What is the # of mice per cage dependent on?

Cage size & age/sex of mice

Nutrition of mice

Study dependent

Pelleted, nutritionally complete

Diet goals

What is the second most used mammal in research?

Rats

What are the most common rat strains used in research?

Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, Long-Evans

Rat housing conditions

Same rack as mice

Larger cages

enrichment/ husbandry

What type of housing is most ideal for rats?

Group housing

Male rats fight less than male mice

Most common nonhuman primates used in research?

Rhesus macaques, cynomolgus macaques, marmosets, African green monkeys

Nonhuman Primates are used in less than __ of all research conducted?

1%

The regulatory requirements around nonhuman primates are

VERY strict

Considerations around nonhuman primate hosuing?

Social housing, large cage sizes, adequate environmental enrichment

Single housing for nonhuman primates requires

justification and IACUC approval

Indoor housing examples (nonhuman primates)

Use of squeeze cages ensures ___ for both monkey and research.

safety

How can monkeys be trained to help decrease use of chemical and physical restraints?

They can be trained to present arm or leg for procedures

Happy, healthy animals =

good science!

Behavioral management units ensure that animals are provided with

adequate environmental enrichment, train animals for procedures, help with group housing

Rhesus Macaque Hierarchy consists of

Matrilineal - females inherit their mother’s rank & stay w/ their natal group

Males leave their natal group upon maturity - enter new troop at bottom of rank

Rhesus Macaque dominance is enforced through

aggression

Lower ranking monkeys have less access to food, mates, space

Use of chimpanzees in research ended in 2015 due to

Extension of endangered species label covering animals in captivity too

Where are most research Chimpanzees today?

In sanctuaries or in retirement at their facility

Current issues in Lab animal medicine

Animal’s rights groups

Increased public scrutiny

Multiple recent bills to block use of dog and nonhuman primates

What is the future of animal research?

Possible alternative methods from animal use is becoming more popular

Alternatives to animal research include

Cell cultures

Organ-on-a-chip technology

AI modeling

Computer models