| 1. |
- Cvek, Katarina
(author)
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Animal Research, Accountability, Openness and Public Engagement: Report from an International Expert Forum
- 2019
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In: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple Summary The issues of openness, transparency and public engagement about animal research have taken focus in several different countries in recent years. This paper gives an account of a two-day-long expert forum that brought together policy experts and academics from Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The aim was to share current governance practices regarding openness and transparency of animal research and to brainstorm ideas for better public engagement. The facilitated conversations were transcribed and analysed to create this report and recommendations that encourage international policy-makers and other stakeholders to engage in genuine dialogue about the use of animals in research. In November 2013, a group of international experts in animal research policy (n = 11) gathered in Vancouver, Canada, to discuss openness and accountability in animal research. The primary objective was to bring together participants from various jurisdictions (United States, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom) to share practices regarding the governance of animals used in research, testing and education, with emphasis on the governance process followed, the methods of community engagement, and the balance of openness versus confidentiality. During the forum, participants came to a broad consensus on the need for: (a) evidence-based metrics to allow a "virtuous feedback" system for evaluation and quality assurance of animal research, (b) the need for increased public access to information, together with opportunities for stakeholder dialogue about animal research, (c) a greater diversity of views to be represented on decision-making committees to allow for greater balance and (d) a standardized and robust ethical decision-making process that incorporates some sort of societal input. These recommendations encourage aspirations beyond merely imparting information and towards a genuine dialogue that represents a shared agenda surrounding laboratory animal use.
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| 2. |
- Cvek, Katarina, et al.
(author)
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Effects of Alternative Housing Systems on Physical and Social Activity in Male Sprague Dawley and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
- 2011
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science. - 0901-3393. ; 38, s. 47-66
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two alternative rat cages and their effect on home cage physical and social activity were evaluated in male Sprague Dawley (SPD) and Spontaneously Hypertensive (SH) rats for 10 weeks. Rats were housed strain-wise in pairs in ST cages, in groups of eight in Enriched Rat Cage System (ERC) equipped with a shelter and wall-hung ladders, and in groups of eight in four interconnected Scantainer(NOVO) cages (NOVO), equipped with shelves. Home cage activity was assessed through direct observations and effects were studied in exercise tests, parameters related to physical activity and in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). Effects of within-group variation on the minimum sample size needed to detect a treatment effect were calculated for the different cage types. The home cage activity was highest in NOVO cages, followed by the ERC cages. This was supported by the higher locomotor and exploratory activity in the EPM and an improved performance in the last exercise test, compared to ST-caged rats. Aggressive and submissive interactions were higher in NOVO cages compared to ST cages. The design of the NOVO cages, if connected, might induce both a higher activity level and more aggression. The hypertension and insulin resistance typical of the hypertensive rat model were not influenced by an increased home cage activity. No major effects of alternative cage types were found on within-group variation. The activity was not enough to create a distinct training effect but prevented exercise-related parameters from deteriorating during the study and is therefore still relevant for the health and welfare of the animals. Additional benefits of the alternative cages are qualitative, since they stimulate a wider range of behaviours, social interactions and offer possibilities for the rats to control their situation.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Cvek, Katarina
(author)
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Project evaluation in animal research - Possibilities for harmonization in Nordic countries
- 2023
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science. - 0901-3393 .- 2002-0112. ; 49, s. 6-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper is a report of discussion, between responsible persons involved in animal research project evaluation throughout the Nordic region, on the activities, issues and problems encountered with evaluating project applications for experimental work involving the use of animals. Harmonization of the actions of responsible authorities in the evaluation of animal experimental projects is encouraged by policy makers at the European level, and the possibilities to encourage this are discussed. While the processes of evaluation and the composition of the committees are broadly similar across the region there are also differences. Applications are often made with insufficient attention, with sometimes too much non-essential information (for example details on molecular biology) given which tends to mask the important question of 'what is actually proposed to be done to the animals?'. Better guidance and simplification of the application process, in particular simplification of information required in the application document, may improve this. Lack of training was identified as a common problem, although to share best practice and flag common errors and problems.
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| 5. |
- Hultgren, Jan, et al.
(author)
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Cattle behaviours and stockperson actions related to impaired animal welfare at Swedish slaughter plants
- 2014
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In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 152, s. 23-37
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- At a slaughter plant, cattle are sometimes exposed to rough handling which may reduce animal welfare (AW). In an observational study at four Swedish commercial slaughter plants, AW-related behaviours of cattle and actions of abattoir stockpersons handling the same animals were recorded simultaneously. The objective was to estimate the occurrence of different behaviours and actions related to negative AW during driving and stunning at large-scale cattle abattoirs, assess associations between such behaviours and actions, and analyse differences between plants and animal categories (dairy cows, beef cows, adult bulls and heifers/bullocks). Direct continuous observations of focal animals were made using laptops either in a section of the driving race to the stun box (132 animals) or in the stun box (313 animals), generating a total of 14.5 h of observations. The animals were stunned using a penetrating captive bolt gun or a rifle. Counts per animal of 14 behaviours and 16 stockperson actions were calculated. Sixteen percent of the observed animals displayed total behaviour counts >5 in the driving race, and 2% did so in the stun box; 32 and 8% of the observed animals received total counts >5 of stockperson actions in the race and stun box, respectively. We estimated that two-thirds of the animals were processed without displaying/receiving any of the behaviours/actions associated with severely negative AW. AW scores were acquired by adding together all observed behaviour counts (and action counts, separately) weighted by expert-assessed ratings denoting the degree of impaired AW. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyse associations between behaviour counts, action counts and AW scores. Only three moderate to strong correlations (p >= 0.4, P <= 0.001) between single behaviours/actions were found ("slapping rear" and "slapping front"; "prodding" and "shouting"; and "prodding" and "beating rear" in the driving race). The correlation between AW scores based on behaviours and actions was statistically significant but rather weak both in the driving race (p = 0.37, P<0.0001) and stun box (p = 0.22, P = 0.0002). The effects of slaughter plant and animal category on behaviour counts and AW scores were estimated using standard or zero-inflated negative-binomial regression. The risks of most behaviours related to negative AW differed considerably between plants. In the stun box, adult bulls had a 2.5 times higher risk of "struggling-kicking" (P = 0.016) and a 2.0 times higher risk of displaying "backing-turning" (P = 0.016) than had dairy cows, indicating poorer welfare for the bulls. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Lindsjö, Johan, et al.
(author)
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The Dividing Line Between Wildlife Research and Management-Implications for Animal Welfare
- 2019
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In: Frontiers in Veterinary Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2297-1769. ; 6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wild animals are used for research and management purposes in Sweden and throughout the world. Animals are often subjected to similar procedures and risks of compromised welfare from capture, anesthesia, handling, sampling, marking, and sometimes selective removal. The interpretation of the protection of animals used for scientific purposes in Sweden is based on the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. The purpose of animal use, irrespective if the animal is suffering or not, decides the classification as a research animal, according to Swedish legislation. In Sweden, like in several other European countries, the legislation differs between research and management. Whereas, animal research is generally well-defined and covered in the legislation, wildlife management is not. The protection of wild animals differs depending on the procedure they are subjected to, and how they are classified. In contrast to wildlife management activities, research projects have to implement the 3Rs and must undergo ethical reviews and official animal welfare controls. It is often difficult to define the dividing line between the two categories, e.g., when marking for identification purposes. This gray area creates uncertainty and problems beyond animal welfare, e.g., in Sweden, information that has been collected during management without ethical approval should not be published. The legislation therefore needs to be harmonized. To ensure consistent ethical and welfare assessments for wild animals at the hands of humans, and for the benefit of science and management, we suggest that both research and management procedures are assessed by one single Animal Ethics Committee with expertise in the 3Rs, animal welfare, wildlife population health and One Health. We emphasize the need for increased and improved official animal welfare control, facilitated by compatible legislation and a similar ethical authorization process for all wild animal procedures.
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| 7. |
- Rönn, Monika, et al.
(author)
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Quantification of total and visceral adipose tissue in fructose-fed rats using water-fat separated single echo MRI
- 2013
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In: Obesity. - : Wiley. - 1930-7381 .- 1930-739X. ; 21:9, s. E388-E395
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to setup a rodent model for modest weight gain and an MRI-based quantification of body composition on a clinical 1.5 T MRI system for studies of obesity and environmental factors and their possible association. Design and Methods: Twenty-four 4-week-old female Fischer rats were divided into two groups: one exposed group (n=12) and one control group (n 12). The exposed group was given drinking water containing fructose (5% for 7 weeks, then 20% for 3 weeks). The control group was given tap water. Before sacrifice, whole body MRI was performed to determine volumes of total and visceral adipose tissue and lean tissue. MRI was performed using a clinical 1.5 T system and a chemical shift based technique for separation of water and fat signal from a rapid single echo acquisition. Fat signal fraction was used to separate adipose and lean tissue. Visceral adipose tissue volume was quantified using semiautomated segmentation. After sacrifice, a perirenal fat pad and the liver were dissected and weighed. Plasma proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results: The weight gain was 5.2% greater in rats exposed to fructose than in controls (P=0.042). Total and visceral adipose tissue volumes were 5.2 cm(3) (P=0.017) and 3.1 cm(3) (P=0.019) greater, respectively, while lean tissue volumes did not differ. The level of triglycerides and apolipoprotein A-I was higher (P=0.034, P=0.005, respectively) in fructose-exposed rats.
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| 8. |
- Spangenberg, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Effects of physical activity and group size on animal welfare in laboratory rats
- 2009
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In: Animal Welfare. - 0962-7286 .- 2054-1538. ; 18, s. 159-169
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate whether moderate physical activity and group size influence physical fitness, the level of social interactions in the home cage and rats' performance in the Elevated Plus Maze and a handling test. Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were kept in groups of two, four or eight for seven weeks in cages adjusted to the group size. Home cage social interactions were studied during direct observations. Half of the number of rats from each cage were subjected to moderate exercise on a treadmill for five weeks. An exercise test was performed at the beginning and end of the experimental period, during which time lactate levels were analysed via blood sampling. Rats living in groups of four or eight performed better in the second exercise test; had more social interactions and showed more activity, open-arm entries and risk assessment in the Elevated Plus Maze test compared to rats living in pairs. The trained rats had lower blood lactate levels in the second exercise test lower bodyweight and plasma insulin levels and had a greater relative heart weight at the end of the study compared to control rats. In conclusion, rats kept in larger groups had more social interactions, a lower lactate response during exercise and showed less emotional reactivity. Moderate treadmill exercise resulted in the expected increase in the rats' physical fitness. The results show that both group size and physical activity are important factors for animal welfare,
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| 9. |
- Steen, Margareta, et al.
(author)
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Wild animal research – new legal requirements in the European Union
- 2013
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In: Alces : A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose. - 0835-5851. ; 49, s. 127-131
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The European Union agreed on a directive (DIR) for the protection of animals used forscientific purposes in 2010 which was implemented by member states at the onset of 2013. The DIRapplies to animals used for science or education that are subjected to pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than that caused by a needle. The DIR changes the legal framework forwild animal research and requires educational and training standards of staff involved in capturing,planning, or performing research. Both wild animals studied in or taken from the wild into captivityare covered by the DIR. An animal welfare body must be established that includes a scientific memberand at least one person responsible for animal welfare, and they must receive input from a designated veterinarian. The DIR will aid and improve wild animal research because standards of animal welfareand research ethics must be met. Although similar standards for moose research were employed pre-viously in Scandinavia, future moose research and conservation will likewise benefit.
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| 10. |
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