Animal welfare in biomedical research

Authors

  • Marcela Suárez Esquivel Cátedra de Fisiología. Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica., Costa Rica
  • Sandra Estrada König Comisión de Bioética y Bienestar Animal, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica., Costa Rica

Keywords:

animal welfare, research, stress, biomedicine, animal bioethics

Abstract

Animal welfare represents a controversial topic that has attracted special interest in recent years, and, consequently, has been brought to the attention of biomedical research. The use of animals has greatly benefited scientific progress in the field of medical research.  However, it has been widely questioned because of its ethical implications. Useful techniques are included in this article to decrease pain and stress in research animals, pursue their welfare, and improve their handling. The paper also includes some definitions and ethical issues to insure animal welfare.  In addition, the national legislation is quoted and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the importance of knowing the species with which the researcher is working, routinely monitoring, and educating those who handle the animals and promoting respect for them.

References

ACUC (Animal Care and Use Committee of University of California, Berkeley). 2012. Environment Enrichment Guidelines [en línea]. http://www.acuc.berkeley.edu/guidelines/environmental_enrichment.pdf (Consulta 05. 10.2012).

American Veterinary Medicine Association. 2007. AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia [en línea]. Formerly the Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia.http://www.uccaribe.edu/research/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AVMA-Guidelines-on-Euthanasia.pdf. (Consulta 05.10.2012).

Asamblea Legislativa, Costa Rica. Comisión Legislativa Plena Primera. Bienestar de los animales. Ley No. 7451. La Gaceta No.236, martes 13 de diciembre de 1994. San José, Costa Rica.

Asamblea Legislativa, Costa Rica. Comisión Legislativa Plena Primera. Bienestar de los animales. Ley No. 7451. La Gaceta No.236, martes 13 de diciembre de 1994. San José, Costa Rica.

Barassi, N., F. Benavides & A., Ceccarelli. 1996. Ética en el uso de animales de experimentación. Medicina. 5 (5/1). Argentina.

Bekoff, M. 1998. Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare. Greenwood Press. USA.

Brambell, F. W. R. 1965. Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensi­ve Livestock Husbandry Systems. HMSO, London, UK.

Broom, D. M. 1986. Indicators of poor welfare. British Veterinary Journal.142: 524– 526.

CCAC (Canadian Council of Animal Care in science). 2008. CCAC training module on: the Three Rs of humane animal experimentation [en línea]. http://www.ccac.ca/en_/education/niaut/stream/cs-3rs. (Consulta 05.10.2012)

Duncan, I. J. H. 2005. Science-based assessment of animal welfare: farm animals. Rev. sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 24 (2) 483-492.

Duncan, I. J. H. 1993. Welfare is to do with what animals feel. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 6:8-14.

Farm Animal Welfare Committee UK (FAWK). 2009. Five Freedoms [en línea]. http://www.fawc.org.uk/freedoms.htm. (Consulta 05. 10.2012)

Fraser, A. F. & D. M. Broom, 1990. Farm Animal Behavior and Welfare, 3rd ed. London: Bailliere Tindall

Ghazanfar, A. A. 2003. Book review: Biomedical research and animal welfare-a delicate balance. Nature neuroscience. 4 (3): 227-229.

Gimpel, J. 2009. Aspectos bioéticos en el uso de animales de experimentación. In: Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica. Andros Impresores. Chile

Granados-Zúñiga, J. & L. Pazos-Sanou. 1998. Legislación para el uso de animales de laboratorio en Costa Rica. Med. leg. Costa Rica. 15(1-2):3-5.

Hernández, S. 2006. El modelo animal en las investigaciones biomédicas. BIOMEDICINA. 2 (3): 252-256.

Hubrecht, R. & J. Kirkwood. 2010. The UFAW handbook on the care and management of laboratory and other research animals. 8th ed. Wiley-Blackwell. Singapore.

Hughes B. O. 1976. Behaviour as an index of welfare. Proc. V. Europ. Poultry Conference Malta, pp. 1005-1018.

ILAR (Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources).1999. Guía para el Cuidado y Uso de los Animales de Laboratorio [en línea]. Edición Mexicana auspiciada por la Academia Nacional de Medicina. National Academy Press,

Washington. http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/noawicpubs/careuse.htm#chap3d (Consulta05.10.2012).

Liddick, D. R. 2006. Eco-Terrorism: Radical Environmental and Animal Liberation Movements. Praeger Publishers. EE.UU.

NRC (National Research Council). 1992. Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals. A report of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Committee on Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press.

NRC (National Research Council). 2008. Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals. The National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.

Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OIE). 2012. Código Sanitario para los Animales Terrestres [en

línea].http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=2&htmfile=chapitre_1.7.3.htm. (Consulta 05.10.2012).

Pound, P., S. Ebrahim, P. Sandercock, M.B. Bracken & I. Roberts. 2004. Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans? Education and Debate.328: 514-517.

Recuerda, P., R. Moyano & F. Castro (eds). 2003. Bienestar animal: Experimentación, producción, compañía y zoológicos. Departamento de Zoología, Servicio de animales de experimentación Universidad de Córdoba. Copisterías Don Folio S. L. Córdoba.

Rollin, B. E. 1993. Animal welfare, science and value. J. Agr. Environ. Ethics 6:44-50 (Suppl 2).

Russell, W. M. S. & R. L. Burch.1959. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. Methuen. London.

Stewart, K. L. & K. Bayne. 2004. Environmental Enrichment for Laboratory Animals. In: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management, J.D. Reuter and M.A. Suckow (Eds.). International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), Ithaca, New York, USA.

Van de Weerd, H. A., P. L. P. Van Loo, L. F. M. Van Zutphen, J. M. Koolhaas, & V. Baumans. 1997. Preferences for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals. 31: 133-143.

Downloads

Published

2014-05-09

How to Cite

How to Cite

Comentarios (ver términos de uso)

Most read articles by the same author(s)