Ethical Guidelines for Use of Experimental Animals in Biomedical Research

Ahra Cho; Seung Hyeok Seok

doi:10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.18

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Cho and Seok: Ethical Guidelines for Use of Experimental Animals in Biomedical Research

Review Article

J Bacteriol Virol 2013;43(1):18-26.

Published online: 9 February 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2013.43.1.18

Ethical Guidelines for Use of Experimental Animals in Biomedical Research

Ahra Cho¹, Seung Hyeok Seok^2,^*

¹College of Communication, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Endemic Disease, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

^*Corresponding author: Seung Hyeok Seok, D.V.M., Ph.D. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Institute of Endemic Disease, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. Phone: +82-2-740-8302, Fax: +82-2-743-0881, e-mail: lamseok@snu.ac.kr

Received 8 February 20132 March 2013 Accepted 5 March 2013

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Increasing concerns on animal welfare, the discussion about the necessity and the ethical acceptability of animal experiments is getting important. In this article, we describe ethical issues between the benefits of the animal experiments and the suffering of the animals. If there are no alternatives for animal experiments, the ethical guidelines, 3Rs (Reduction, Replacement, Refinement) by Russell and Burch for humane animal experiments should be considered. Moreover, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) assist researchers to perform animal testing humanely and safely. We point out three important aspects in support of humane animal experiments; 1) the development of diverse scientific alternatives on the animal testing, 2) the ethical education of animal experiments for researchers, 3) the productive interactions among various social groups on ethics and safety of animal experiments.

Keywords: Animal welfare, Animal experiments, Ethical guidelines, 3Rs, Biosafety

REFERENCES

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Table 1.

Observational checklists used to determine endpoints: Chronic infectious disease in mice-leishmaniasis (13)

Score^a	Body weight changes	Physical appearance	Behavior
0	Normal	Normal	Normal
1	< 10% Weight loss	Lack of grooming	Minor changes; limping, favoring inoculated limb
2	10∼15% Weight loss	Rough coat, nasal/ocular discharge	Abnormal; reduced mobility, inactive
3	> 20% Weight loss	Very rough coat, abnormal posture	Unsolicited vocalizations, self-mutilation, either very restless or immobile

^a When a total score of three or more is reached, based on above checklist, the laboratory animal veterinarian must be notified

Table 2.

Agents and methods of euthanasia by species (14)

Methods	Acceptable^a	Acceptable with conditions^a
Aquatic invertebrates	- Immersion in anesthetic solution (magnesium salts, clove oil, eugenol, ethanol)	- Adjunctive methods (second step) include 70% alcohol and neutral-buffered 10% formalin, pithing, freezing, boiling
Amphibians	- As appropriate by species−-Injected barbiturates, dissociative agents and anesthetics as specified, topical buffered tricaine methanesulfonate or benzocaine hydrochloride	- As appropriate by species−-Inhaled anesthetics as specified, CO₂, penetrating captive bolt or firearm, manually applied blunt force trauma to the head, rapid freezing
Cats	- Intravenous barbiturates, injected anesthetic overdose, Tributame, T-61	- Barbiturates (alternate routes of administration), inhaled anesthetic overdose, CO^b, CO₂^b, gunshot^b
Cattle	- Intravenous barbiturates	- Gunshot, penetrating captive bolt
Dogs	- Intravenous barbiturates, injected anesthetic overdose, Tributame, T-61	- Barbiturates (alternate routes of administration), inhaled anesthetic overdose, CO^b, CO₂^b, gunshot^b
Equids	- Intravenous barbiturates	- Penetrating captive bolt, gunshot
Nonhuman primates	- Injected barbiturates or anesthetic overdose	- (as appropriate by species): Inhaled anesthetic, CO, CO₂
Poultry	- Injected barbiturates and anesthetic overdose	- CO₂, CO, N₂, Ar, cervical dislocation (as anatomically appropriate), decapitation, manual blunt force trauma, electrocution, gunshot, captive bolt
Rabbits	- Intravenous barbiturates	- Inhaled anesthetic overdose, CO₂, cervical dislocation (as anatomically appropriate), penetrating captive bolt
Reptiles	- As appropriate by species−-Injected barbiturates, dissociative agents and anesthetics as specified	- As appropriate by species−-Inhaled anesthetics as specified, CO₂, penetrating captive bolt or firearm, manually applied blunt force trauma to the head, rapid freezing for animals < 4 g
Rodents	- Injected barbiturates and barbiturate combinations, dissociative agent combinations - Inhaled anesthetics, CO₂^c	- Inhaled anesthetics, CO₂, CO, tribromoethanol, ethanol, cervical dislocation, decapitation, focused beam microwave irradiation
Small ruminants	- Injected barbiturates	- Gunshot, penetrating captive bolt
Swine	- Injected barbiturates	- CO₂, CO, N₂, Ar, gunshot, electrocution, nonpenetrating captive bolt, manually applied blunt force trauma

^a Source: Modified from AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition, p 99 (14)

^b Not recommended for routine use

^c Routine use in Korea

Table 3.

Biosafety Levels (BL) (15)

BL	Agents^a	Practices^a	Equipment^a	Facilities^a
1	Not known to consistently cause diseases in healthy adults	Standard microbiological practices	- No primary barriers required. - PPE: laboratory coats and gloves; eye, face protection, as needed	Laboratory bench and sink required
2	- Agents associated with human disease - Routes of transmission include percutaneous injury, ingestion, mucous membrane exposure	BL-1 practice plus: - Limited access - Biohazard warning signs - Sharps precautions Biosafety manual defining any needed waste decontamination or medical surveillance policies	Primary barriers: - BSCs or other physical containment devices used for all manipulations of agents that cause splashes or aerosols of infectious materials - PPE: Laboratory coats, gloves, face and eye protection, as needed	BL-1 plus: Autoclave available
3	- Indigenous or exotic agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease through the inhalation route of exposure	BL-2 practice plus: - Controlled access - Decontamination of all waste - Decontamination of laboratory clothing before laundering	Primary barriers: - BSCs or other physical containment devices used for all open manipulations of agents - PPE: Protective laboratory clothing, gloves, face, eye and respiratory protection, as needed	BL-2 plus: - Physical separation from access corridors - Self-closing, double-door access - Exhausted air not recirculated - Negative airflow into laboratory - Entry through airlock or anteroom
4	- Dangerous/exotic agents which post high individual risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections that are frequently fatal, for which there are no vaccines or treatments - Related agents with unknown risk of transmission	BL-3 practices plus: - Clothing change before entering - Shower on exit - All material decontaminated on exit from facility	Primary barriers: - All procedures conducted in Class III BSCs or Class I or II BSCs in combination with full-body, air-supplied, positive pressure suit	BL-3 plus: - Separate building or isolated zone - Dedicated supply and exhaust, vacuum, and decontamination systems

^a Source: Modified from Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, p 59 (15)

Table 4.

Animal Biosafety Levels (ABL) (16)

ABL	Agents^a	Practices^a	Equipment^a	Facilities^a
1	Not known to consistently cause disease	- Standard animal care and management - Good microbiological technique	None other than what is required for normal care	- No recirculation of exhaust air - Hand washing facility
2	- Associated with human disease, BL-2 - Percutaneous, mucous, membrane exposure, ingestion	ABL-1 plus: - Limited access - Biohazard signs - Sharps precautions - Decontamination of wastes and cages prior to washing - Disinfectant foot baths as needed	ABL-1 plus: - Primary containment equipment such as BSCs - PPE and respiratory protection as needed	ABL-1 plus: Easy cleaning
3	- Indigenous or exotic agents, BL-3 - Potential for aerosol transmission	ABL-2 plus: - Restricted and controlled access - Decontamination of clothing before laundering - Cages decontaminated before bedding removal	ABL-2 plus: Containment equipment for housing animal and cage dumping	ABL-2 plus: - Physical separation from access corridors - Anteroom with self closing double door access - Sealed penetrations - Autoclave available in facilities

^a Source: Modified from Cornell University Institutional Biosafety Committee's manual (16)

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