Contemporary Issues in Lab animal medicine

Lab animal veterinarians role and experiences

Governed by the American College of Laboratory Animals medicine

residence programs

Collaborating with scientists and researchers

ensuring regular compliance and perform research procedures

Animal research

Animals are used in scientific research to advance medicine because of animals vaccines, anitbiotics, insulin and organ transplants are all possible

Animal research is required before human testing unless ingrediants in something like cosmetics are already known to be safe

What is the first major law in regards to animal research

Curelty to Animals Act, UK 1876

-required licensing for research

-Introduced regular facility inspections

Animal welfare

Law established in 1966 that regulated the treatment of animals in research, teaching, exhibition and transport

Enforced by the USDA implementing regular inspections of animal facilities

Does not include cold blooded animals, birds, rats mice or food/ farm animals

The 3 Rs list the 3

Reduction

Replacement

Refinement

What is reduction (apart of the 3 Rs)

Using the smallest amount of animals possible to conduct research

use statistical models to determine

What is replacement (apart of the 3 Rs)

Using nonanimal methods (cell culture, organs on a chip, AI, computer models) or lower conscious animals (mice in place of NHPs)

What is refinement apart of the 3 Rs

Minimizing any pain or distress that animals may experince

Pain medication, humans endpoints

What are the guides for the care and use of laboratory animals

Essential documents that provides the framework for the care and use of animals in research

• Like cage size, transport requirements

Does not cover ag. animals, wildlife and certain aquatic species

• other guides are available

Following the guide is required for all NIH funded and AAALAC accredited institutions- voluntary accreditation that ensures research is meeting high ethical standards

What is the IACUC

Institutional animal care and Use Committee

• oversee an institution’s animal research programs

• All animal research programs must have an IACUC

Who does IACUC report to

OLAW

which approves and monitors all research protocols

• protocols must be approved before research is started

Conduct semi annual inspections

5 members are required that must include at least a vet, scientist, nonscientist and a community member

What are some of the common animal models

Mice and rats 95%

Zebrafish- now considered a primary species to use

Rabbits

Nonhuman primates, dogs, pigs, cats, ferrets, other animals

• 1%

Mice

Mus musculla

Originated form the common house mouse

8,000 different strains used in biomedical research

C57BL/6 is the most common strain

Housing for mice

Maintained in a rack system and they all have a IVC system where they all have there own ventilation. This allows for individual environments and several studies to be held on same rack without affecting outcomes

What are the regulations behind animals kept in housing

Animals are checked daily by personnel

Nesting material provided to allow for burrowing and digging

Food and water provided unless fasting is required for study

Cage must be changed every 7-14 days

Huts can cause fighting

what are some housing considerations

Group housing is ideal and dependent on research protocols and male mice are typically aggressive in singly housed groups.

Number of mice per cage is dependent on cage size and age/ sex of mice

• important when breeding mice

• multiple litters can easily lead to overcrowding

  • daily checks for breeding mice to reduce overcrowding

Nutrition

Is very study dependent

typically pelleted nutritionally complete

diet gels

Rats

Rattus Norvegicus

Is the 2 most used mammal in research

over 500 strains

• Sprague-dawley, wistar, long evans are the most common

What are some of the housing considerations

Same rack systems as mice but are typically a little larger

rats fight less than mice

Non- human primate

Rhesus macaques, cynmolgus macaques, marmosets, African green monkeys

Strict regulatory requirements

used in less than 1% of all research conductedWha

What are some of the strict housing requirements for primates

Strict housing as it must be social housing unless given specific approval for a specific reason by IACUC approval

Large outdoor field enclosures common in areas where temperature is favorable

Indoor housing examples for primates

Often times they live in cages with a squeeze mechanism to ensure safety for both the monkey and research personnel

In these situation the monkeys can be trained to use less restraint

Behavior aspect of studies

Large behavioral management units

Happy animals= good science conducted

Ensures that animals are provided with adequate environmental enrichment, train animals for procedures. they also help with group housing

Work closely with researchers to select animals

Rhesus Macaque Hierarchy

Matrilineal: females are born into there position, so whatever there mother is that is what they will be

Males will leave the group as they mature and dominance is enforced by behavior

Try to overtake each other matriline… very deadly

Lower ranking animals typically have more disease as they have less food and nutrition options as they are kept on the outside

Chimp use in research

Widely used in the 20t. century not used anymore since 2015 as they became an endangered species

Most chimps live in sanctuaries

Mangabeys were used for SIV research which helped with people HIV research

What are some of the current issues in lab aniamls

Animal rights groups

Public scruitiny

Laws passed preventing dog and nonhuman primate use

Alternative methods of research are becoming more popular