Samenvatting Laboratory Animal Science
1. Introduction
- Assignment, Workshop, Exam
2. Legislation
- Europe: 12 Million Animals are used
- Belgium: 700.00 Animals are used over the past year
Most used animals are Rodents
- 81% Are Mouse and Rats
- 9% are Rabbits
- 5% Fish, Amphibians and reptiles
- 3% Are birds
- Less than 1% are Farm Animals
- Lower numbers includes Dogs, Cats and Primates
Use of Laboratory Animals is Fluctuating
- Development of Alternatives, Ethics, Legislation, More responsible use and high
costs results in a decrease
- The development of transgenic animals results in a increase
The first European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals = MARCH 1986
- This Convention was translated in Belgian Law in August 1986
- There was a update in this law in 1993
- In April 2010: New Belgian decree of even stricter rules about housing of Laboratory
Animals
- In September 2010: New European Directive on the protection of animals used for
scientific purposes
- MAY 2013: Translation of the EU Directive into national legislation
Definition of Laboratory Animal
- Every living vertebrate animal (Free living and reproducing forms)
- All animals that are used or intended for Laboratory Experiments
1
,What will change with the New Legislation?
- Include some invertebrate (Before it was only Vertebrate): Squid, Lobster
- Embryonic forms starting from the last third of term
Definition of Animal Experiment
- Every use of a living vertebrate Animal for Experimental and other scientific purposes
- Including every treatment that has the purpose or the consequence of the birth of
an animal in such a condition
- It does not include the least painful way to kill or mark the animal, and
non-experimental treatments
THE LAW SAY THAT (Important topic of this Chapter)
- An animal should not be used more than once in experiments that inflicts serious
pain and suffering
- Pain and suffering were not defined in the previous legislation (NOW it is included)
Degrees of Pain and Suffering: Mild - Moderate - Severe
- Also the injury has to be taking into account
- Example: Radiation doesn’t hurt but it gives severe damage to the body
Can we use animals for every purpose we want? No, Only for a few who are defined in the
legislation
1. Production and control of sera, vaccines or diagnostics
2. Toxicological and pharmacological research
3. Diagnose of Diseases
4. Education
5. Answer Scientific Questions
NOT: to test cosmetics products
The animals are used the most for Development and quality control of products and
material for human, veterinary and dental medicine, AND For Fundamental Research
2
,What does the law say about housing and taking care of the animals?
- Housing conditions, Environment, Space to move, feed, water and care have to
meet the animals needs
- Animals and environment have to be checked every day
- The law gives a detailed overview concerning caretaking and housing of
animals per species
- ALSO the animals have to be regularly checked by veterinarian or expert
Source and identification
- It can not be a stray pets, lost or abandoned animals
- It have to be PURPOSE-BRED
- Large animals can be purchased from a farm (NO PURPOSE-BRED)
- For exemption: you need a strong motivation (Example: Difficult to get)
- All animals coming in and leaving the laboratory have to be registered
- Dogs, Cat and primates: have to be marked individually and permanent
Statistical information
- Data concerning the use of animals must be handed to government every year
Responsible use of Laboratory Animals
- Must be restricted to absolute minimum
- May only be performed if the purpose cannot be achieved by other methods
- Choice of animals species must be seriously considered
- Preferably use animals with lowest neurophysiologic degree
- Animals must never be subject to serious pain, great discomfort or suffering
- Pain or injury involved → Experiments should be performed under anaesthesia
- If this is not possible → Analgesics or another fitting method to decrease pain
3 R’s
1. Reduction
2. Replacement
3. Refinement
(4) Responsibility
3
, Before starting animal Experiments: several approvals are necessary
Governmental laboratory licence: overview of the rooms where the animals are housed
and experiment go on, Overview of the kind of experiments, list of the species and their
source, overview of the staff
Overview of the staff
- Laboratory director: Responsible manager
- Expert: who responsible for the health and well-being of animal
- Project lead: who sets up the experiment
- Biotechnicians
- Animal caretakers
Permission of the Ethical Committee: obligatory in laboratory and institutions
- Evaluate the planned experiments
- Setting up of ethical criteria concerning animal experiments
- Advising laboratories and the government
- Reporting to government
Ethical Committee contains:
- Laboratory director
- Project leader
- Biotechnician
- Veterinarian or expert
- At least two Independent members
Form needed to apply for the permission of the Ethical Committee
1. Staff responsible for project
2. Purpose and description of project
3. Number and species of animals, degree and duration of pain
4. Anaesthesia and analgesia that will be used
5. Post-operative recovery care
6. Alternative methods: in vitro
7. Humane endpoints and euthanasia (method)
In the new Legislation: Retrospective assessment or post-experimental evaluation
4
1. Introduction
- Assignment, Workshop, Exam
2. Legislation
- Europe: 12 Million Animals are used
- Belgium: 700.00 Animals are used over the past year
Most used animals are Rodents
- 81% Are Mouse and Rats
- 9% are Rabbits
- 5% Fish, Amphibians and reptiles
- 3% Are birds
- Less than 1% are Farm Animals
- Lower numbers includes Dogs, Cats and Primates
Use of Laboratory Animals is Fluctuating
- Development of Alternatives, Ethics, Legislation, More responsible use and high
costs results in a decrease
- The development of transgenic animals results in a increase
The first European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals = MARCH 1986
- This Convention was translated in Belgian Law in August 1986
- There was a update in this law in 1993
- In April 2010: New Belgian decree of even stricter rules about housing of Laboratory
Animals
- In September 2010: New European Directive on the protection of animals used for
scientific purposes
- MAY 2013: Translation of the EU Directive into national legislation
Definition of Laboratory Animal
- Every living vertebrate animal (Free living and reproducing forms)
- All animals that are used or intended for Laboratory Experiments
1
,What will change with the New Legislation?
- Include some invertebrate (Before it was only Vertebrate): Squid, Lobster
- Embryonic forms starting from the last third of term
Definition of Animal Experiment
- Every use of a living vertebrate Animal for Experimental and other scientific purposes
- Including every treatment that has the purpose or the consequence of the birth of
an animal in such a condition
- It does not include the least painful way to kill or mark the animal, and
non-experimental treatments
THE LAW SAY THAT (Important topic of this Chapter)
- An animal should not be used more than once in experiments that inflicts serious
pain and suffering
- Pain and suffering were not defined in the previous legislation (NOW it is included)
Degrees of Pain and Suffering: Mild - Moderate - Severe
- Also the injury has to be taking into account
- Example: Radiation doesn’t hurt but it gives severe damage to the body
Can we use animals for every purpose we want? No, Only for a few who are defined in the
legislation
1. Production and control of sera, vaccines or diagnostics
2. Toxicological and pharmacological research
3. Diagnose of Diseases
4. Education
5. Answer Scientific Questions
NOT: to test cosmetics products
The animals are used the most for Development and quality control of products and
material for human, veterinary and dental medicine, AND For Fundamental Research
2
,What does the law say about housing and taking care of the animals?
- Housing conditions, Environment, Space to move, feed, water and care have to
meet the animals needs
- Animals and environment have to be checked every day
- The law gives a detailed overview concerning caretaking and housing of
animals per species
- ALSO the animals have to be regularly checked by veterinarian or expert
Source and identification
- It can not be a stray pets, lost or abandoned animals
- It have to be PURPOSE-BRED
- Large animals can be purchased from a farm (NO PURPOSE-BRED)
- For exemption: you need a strong motivation (Example: Difficult to get)
- All animals coming in and leaving the laboratory have to be registered
- Dogs, Cat and primates: have to be marked individually and permanent
Statistical information
- Data concerning the use of animals must be handed to government every year
Responsible use of Laboratory Animals
- Must be restricted to absolute minimum
- May only be performed if the purpose cannot be achieved by other methods
- Choice of animals species must be seriously considered
- Preferably use animals with lowest neurophysiologic degree
- Animals must never be subject to serious pain, great discomfort or suffering
- Pain or injury involved → Experiments should be performed under anaesthesia
- If this is not possible → Analgesics or another fitting method to decrease pain
3 R’s
1. Reduction
2. Replacement
3. Refinement
(4) Responsibility
3
, Before starting animal Experiments: several approvals are necessary
Governmental laboratory licence: overview of the rooms where the animals are housed
and experiment go on, Overview of the kind of experiments, list of the species and their
source, overview of the staff
Overview of the staff
- Laboratory director: Responsible manager
- Expert: who responsible for the health and well-being of animal
- Project lead: who sets up the experiment
- Biotechnicians
- Animal caretakers
Permission of the Ethical Committee: obligatory in laboratory and institutions
- Evaluate the planned experiments
- Setting up of ethical criteria concerning animal experiments
- Advising laboratories and the government
- Reporting to government
Ethical Committee contains:
- Laboratory director
- Project leader
- Biotechnician
- Veterinarian or expert
- At least two Independent members
Form needed to apply for the permission of the Ethical Committee
1. Staff responsible for project
2. Purpose and description of project
3. Number and species of animals, degree and duration of pain
4. Anaesthesia and analgesia that will be used
5. Post-operative recovery care
6. Alternative methods: in vitro
7. Humane endpoints and euthanasia (method)
In the new Legislation: Retrospective assessment or post-experimental evaluation
4
