Assessing and alleviating pain in animals involved in research is critically important. However, the effective implementation of pain management depends on the knowledge and attitudes of the personnel involved. Following a Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations 'Pain in Mice' working group initiative, a questionnaire to survey current practices concerning analgesic use in laboratory mice was distributed to several professional groups in the field of laboratory animal science. Besides demographic data, attitudes to pain and analgesia and sources of information and advice on pain management were assessed. Data were gathered and analysed through an e-survey provider. Most respondents (N = 222) were from Europe (90%). Analgesics were administered to murine surgical models by 92% of respondents in most cases and by 66% to all mice undergoing surgery. Most respondents used multimodal analgesic regimens (69%). For non-surgical models, 34% of respondents provided analgesics. The most commonly administered classes of analgesics were opioids (mostly buprenorphine) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (mostly meloxicam and carprofen). A wide range of dose rates of meloxicam and carprofen was reported. Local anaesthetics were also widely used in surgical models (mostly lidocaine). Pain assessment was undertaken by most respondents (98%). In conclusion, most respondents provided analgesics to mice undergoing surgery and used analgesics in some non-surgical models. A considerable variation in the dose range used and the timing of administration of analgesics likely reflects both a lack of data and variation in pain assessment methodologies.

The immunogenicity of rabies vaccines is commonly measured by serological testing, which includes measuring rabies virus-neutralising antibody titre levels in the serum. Apart from humoral immunity, cellular immunity measurements are also helpful in assessing the immunogenicity and efficacy of rabies vaccinations. Recently, there has been an increased emphasis on cellular immunity measurements against rabies in humans and animals. This review aimed to systematically analyse the literature on the composition of cellular immune responses against rabies vaccination in laboratory dogs. A literature survey was conducted to collect suitable articles by searching the research databases PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. Subsequently, a two-person screening was conducted to identify suitable articles based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed by two authors independently. A total of 1396 studies were identified from the initial search. Following the screening, six studies were selected for final review. Different methods of detecting immune parameters from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were identified from the studies. Reports have demonstrated positive outcomes of the use of adjuvants for cellular immunity development. Even though the lack of specific immunological techniques and the specific reagents have negatively affected these types of cellular immunity measurements, it was evident that combining both humoral and cellular immune parameters against the rabies antigen would provide a clearer picture of the level of responsiveness in animals towards vaccinations and the protection against the disease. The protocol for this review was published in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (CRD42022380023).

This paper reviews the methods and approaches used to humanely anesthetize (render unconscious) and or euthanize (kill) laboratory fish (in research settings), with a specific focus on the fathead minnow. We surveyed the literature (333 scientific studies published 2004-2021) to examine euthanasia methods used for various life stages. Our findings showed that many published scientific papers do not provide an adequate description of anesthesia or euthanasia methods, particularly for larval fathead minnows. Over the two decades there was a 20% increase in the number of papers that described their euthanasia method(s). In addition, the review shows evidence that younger minnows require higher concentrations of anesthetic (compared with adults) for effective euthanasia. Recommendations from the review include the use of a two-step euthanasia method (immersion in anesthetic followed by spinal severance and/or exsanguination). As well, it is recommended that details of anesthesia and euthanasia are more fully captured in published scientific manuscripts to allow for comparison among studies and for progress in animal welfare methods. Specific research questions remain on whether rapid cooling is a humane first-step euthanasia method, better investigations into understanding when anesthesia has occurred in fish, and research into methods of euthanasia in larval and juvenile fish.

Blood sampling is often performed during animal studies. This is more challenging in mice than in larger animal species owing to their size and lack of blood vessel visibility. Guidelines for blood sampling in mice and papers on animal welfare often refer to the submandibular, cheek, buccal, and anterior facial veins. However, these terms are imprecise. There are at least two different superficial veins that can be used for blood sampling on the head of the mouse; moreover, most studies ignore this distinction. Inaccurate descriptions and even incorrect labelling of the images lead to confusion and unnecessary delays in learning blood collection techniques, as well as stress and pain in animals due to failed attempts. This review explains the most common terminological errors, demonstrates the distinction between bleeding facial and superficial temporal veins using original photographs, and discusses the suitability of sampling from both veins.

Extending an existing animal facility is a challenging process that requires consideration of both engineering and biological aspects. In this sense, integration with ongoing activities must not alter the animals' microbiological condition or welfare, as they usually remain in the facility while these activities occur. The objective of this work was to describe and evaluate the practical biosafety considerations during the enlargement of a specific pathogen-free (SPF) rodent facility. Our facility breeds rats and mice free of a list of zoonotic and common rodent pathogens, comprising 6 ectoparasites, 13 endoparasites, 25 bacteria and 23 viruses. In this project, the new SPF area was connected to an old but still working SPF rodent facility through the original clean corridor. The old clean corridor remained sealed throughout the project, and it was not opened until the new area was finished and fully equipped, all the new rooms were cleaned and disinfected, and the environment was evaluated for the presence of pathogens. Timing during the project was essential, as avoidance of the period of high animal production and demand was sought. The microbiological controls showed no growth of microorganisms in any new room. Thus, the applied procedures were deemed effective. It was concluded that protocols should be carefully planned in order to maintain the SPF condition and animal welfare.

How do you promote ethical principles on a global scale regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes within a global pharmaceutical company like Sanofi? In 2017, the Advisory Body on Animal Ethics (ABAE) was created to harmonize animal ethics across all Sanofi sites. As an advisory body to the Bioethics Committee, the ABAE addresses societal concerns related to the use of animals and develops corporate policies on critical topics. Its composition, objectives and operating processes are described, along with the results achieved. Emphasis is placed on responsibilities, training and the promotion of a culture of care. The existence of an advisory body such as the ABAE can be replicated in other institutions to demonstrate commitment to an ethical approach to the use of animals worldwide.

For operant self-administration, permanent intravenous cannulas need to remain open and operational for months without infections or blockages. Here, we report retrospectively on our experiences and observations using different access systems during three studies. We identified a refined method for vena jugularis cannulation that is a vast improvement for the animals, biotechnicians and researchers. A closed and membrane-sealed system equipped with a magnet in the backmount was easy to use, allowed quick (dis)connection, caused no more than 10% of the animals a little irritation and superficial infection (softer patch), prevented clogging (closed system) and allowed for social housing (metal cap).

Diabetes mellitus, characterized by insufficient insulin secretion and impaired insulin efficacy, disrupts carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. The global diabetic population is expected to double by 2025, from 380 million, posing a significant health challenge. Most diabetic individuals fall into the type 1 or type 2 categories, and diabetes adversely affects various organs, such as the kidneys, liver, nervous system, reproductive system, and eyes.This review focuses on animal models of diabetes induced by chemical agents, which are essential tools for understanding disease mechanisms, investigating complications, and testing antidiabetic drugs. Models include those caused by streptozotocin (STZ), alloxan, ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), dithizone, and anti-insulin serum.Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes models create type 1 and 2 diabetes by destroying pancreatic beta cells. The combination of STZ with nicotinamide mimics type 2 diabetes phenotypes. Alloxan induces a hyperglycemic state by causing free radical formation that selectively destroys pancreatic beta cells. Fe-NTA and dithizone also create diabetes models by damaging pancreatic beta cells. Anti-insulin serum models induce insulin resistance and hyperglycemia by generating antibodies against insulin receptors, leading to a condition similar to type 1 diabetes.Each model has unique characteristics that make it suitable for different aspects of diabetes research. These models are used to understand the pathogenesis of diabetes, develop new treatment strategies, and evaluate the efficacy of potential drugs.

The knowledge and attitude of researchers can affect the validity of laboratory animal (LAN) research. However, studies show that not all researchers possess the required knowledge and appropriate attitude for performing valid research on animals. This may have several reasons, such as high heterogeneity in the educational backgrounds of researchers in animal trials. In this study, we hypothesized that properly designed intensive educational intervention could improve the knowledge and attitude of a mixed population of researchers, regardless of their heterogeneity. We delivered 10 country-wide two-day LAN workshops for academic members, postgraduate students and members of the ethics committees of the medical universities in Iran. Using pre-/post-intervention design, we found that the intervention highly significantly ( p < 0.001) improved the knowledge score (from 2.96 ± 1.483 to 4.63 ± 1.548 mean ± SD; range: 0–8; n = 236) and attitude score (from 62.65 ± 5.160 to 65.57 ± 4.716; range: 14–70; N = 229). We also found that the educational intervention was significantly ( p = 0.035) more effective to improve the knowledge of participants with more years of experience in LAN science. Unexpectedly, our younger participants (overall age range: 19–67 years old; mean ± SD: 37.96 ± 9.55) had lower initial attitude score. However, education was significantly ( p = 0.002) more effective to improve the attitude score of younger participants. The knowledge and attitude improvements were not related to educational background, gender, history of prior attendance in LAN courses and amount of animal use. Attendees’ performance in the final assessment showed that they require more education on the ‘anesthesia/analgesia’ topic. They also declared a high interest in learning more on the design of LAN studies.