Abstract

Training is an important prerequisite to work with laboratory animals in vivarium facilities. Several organizations emphasize mandatory training prior to use of animals either for experiment or husbandry practices in order to meet organizational goals and core values especially in laboratory animal research facilities. The animal care personnel (ACP), animal care supervisors (ACS), scientists, study director, investigators and veterinarians should be trained in their relevant field to perform procedures based on the kind of work they handle on day to day animal care and experimental activities. Any institution can formulate a formal training program considering their requirements and species housed within the facility. Syngene laboratory Animal Research (SLAR) has been the premier organization who explicitly support for training and development of staff at all levels with commitment to increase skill levels of team members to deliver high quality animal care on par with global standards. The noteworthy training matrix of ALAT, LAT, LATG, and FELASA C level certification was cleared by at least 8 and 14 staff, respectively, that includes ACS/investigators/veterinarians apart from specialized techniques on animal procedures. The training, certification and continuing professional development (CPD) showed competency among staff with improved supervisory skills and managerial performance especially animal husbandry as well as other experimental procedures. A viable option of cross-training also provided to carryout weekend animal care including critical functions during emergency situations as redundant backups such a way to maintain the wellbeing of animals without any compromise. Dissemination of knowledge and effective communication with transparency is an essential component for successful training outcomes and practical applications at the laboratories. Collectively, the facility veterinarians and quality assurance have been ensuring the periodical training and monitoring oversight of all the activities in vivarium.

Abstract

Use of laboratory animals is unavoidable in cancer research throughout the world. It would have been impossible to reconstruct the events that occur in human patients with cancers without use of appropriate animal models. Based on the type of cancer research, various models ranging from normal mice/ rats, GEMM, specialised and super specialised animal models are a choice. Use of more specialised and humanized mice models is advantageous due to higher percentage of tumor acceptance and metastasis rate. However, maintenance of such animals need improved housing and environmental conditions in addition to high quality food/water and trained manpower to maintain these animals. If all these facilities are available, it is not difficult to breed/maintain quality animals for the cancer research with reproducible and meaningful results

Abstract

The Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)is the smallest non-human primate which is used frequently in biomedical research. The approximate 88-97% of similarity with human genome makes them a preferable option for use as laboratory model of human diseases and safety assessment. The present study was undertaken to provide a clinically relevant reference range for both haematology and serological parameters of Callithrix jacchus at the experimental animal facility of ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), which houses the largest captive-bred colony of Common Marmosets in existence. The data also gives the ambient environmental conditions in the laboratory cages and food supplement with their nutritive values to uphold the healthy colony of marmoset. We have generated an information from the values obtained in our study of 40 male and 40 female adult Common Marmoset. The hematological and biochemical values of Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) fed with fortified diet were comparable with values reported by other researchers. These results will serve as a reference to evaluate the physiological and health status of C. jacchus populations, which may be useful for further research.

Abstract

The Alternatives or Substitutes is defined as anything from absolute to partial replacement of live animals in biomedical research and testing. Russell and Burch have given their definition of alternatives as the three Rs-Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. The 4th R i.e. Responsibility was added in 1995. Major areas of medicine and biology where experimental animals are involved include-Developing new treatments for diseases (like multiple sclerosis, cancers, AIDS, Alzheimer disease etc.), preparations of natural products used in medical research, safety testing of chemicals and drugs, study of genetic disorders (like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia etc.), development of new diagnostic tests for diseases, laboratory mice and stem cells etc. There are some demerits of animal experimental studies like inhumane treatment of laboratory animals and an animals response to a drug can be different from that of human beings etc. The common alternatives to experimental animals can be physico-chemical techniques, microbiological systems, tissue/organ culture preparation, computer models, epidemiological surveys and plant analysis (e.g. toxicity assays in plants). Research methods superior to using animals to learn about human disease or predict the safety of new drugs are stem cells, microdosing, DNA chips, microfluidics chips, human tissue, new imaging technologies, and post-marketing drug surveillance and alternative organisms [like lower vertebrates (e.g. Zebra fish), invertebrates (e.g. Drosophila melanogaster)]. Animal ethics is an issue as important as the human welfare. More efforts need to be undertaken for effective implementation of 4 Rs during laboratory use of animals. The increase in knowledge, improvement of health care and creation of useful products that is derived from experimentation on animals, carries the cost of pain and distress that the animals experience. There are provisions for ensuring that animal use is performed in a humane manner so as to minimize pain, distress or discomfort. Various alternatives to animal use have been suggested, which need to be implemented in an effective manner. The development in the field of science and technology should be brought to its advantage so that in the coming years novel alternatives can be developed and the issue of moral values in experimentations can be sorted out.