Animals Used for Scientific Purposes Working Group

Documents - Workshop September 2007

Issue Statement - Animals used for Scientific Purposes

1. There is a lack of harmonized regulations and policies across federal and provincial jurisdictions that incorporate Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) policies and guidelines to ensure that the use of all animals for science purposes is under mandatory standards.
   By acting as a quasi-regulatory body, the CCAC defines policies and guidelines on the use of laboratory, research and educational animals. These guidelines and policies provide a national standard. Of the 6 provincial legislations created thus far, 5 reference the CCAC guidelines and policies. If regulations in relevant provincial legislation were in accordance with CCAC guidelines, and if all institutions that use animals for scientific purposes were required to have a CCAC Certificate of Good Animal Practice®, these would ultimately lead to a universal application of guidelines across Canada.

2. There are insufficient mechanisms to minimize the health risks associated with importing and transporting “disease-free” animals nationally and internationally, and between facilities.
   Measures are required to prevent the transfer of spontaneous diseases that occur in animals used for science purposes to other animals nationally or internationally. Of specific concern is the “contamination” of animals, their tissues (e.g. organs or tissues transported to another institution for research or diagnostic purposes) and processed products (e.g. serum, polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies) that may be unintentionally transmittable to other animals and/or research facilities.

3. There are knowledge gaps in the understanding of animals.
   Focusing on the scientific use of animals provides a means to understanding their unique physiologies, requirements, sensitivities etc., which assists in conserving and preserving a species.

4. There is a lack of national policies addressing wildlife in science.
   There is a lack of national policies to ensure the humane handling of wildlife in both research and management studies.

5. There is insufficient access to “clean” animals and animal products.
   There is inadequate access to clean, disease-free animals for use in biomedical research, including non-livestock animals from Canada and abroad. This can mean a significant investment in research being lost, due to clinically healthy animals that develop disease or exhibit a pathology that interferes with the data. In addition, having access to tissues, cell cultures and serum products that are free of microbial pathogens is important. One way to achieve this is to establish regional research centres that have conventional disease-free/SPF herds available.

6. Current standards and operational requirements of CCAC members require review to ensure adequate compliance.
   There is a need for review and enhanced compliance of specific biosecurity requirements— particularly as they relate to the movement of animals and people—and regular sentinel testing to include the potential for exemption from eradication strategies of specific herd(s) or animals (e.g. using blood tests as evidence).

7. The full range of potential impacts of human interaction with animals used for science is not well understood.
   An increased awareness of practices concerning human interactions with animals used for science is necessary, given that these range from controlled laboratory work to field situations. A precautionary approach is needed to address potential impacts to human health and to environmental health.

8. There is a need to look at antimicrobial use due to emerging trends of bacterial resistance.
   Examining current practices that relate to antimicrobial use in research would foster a proactive approach in mitigating risk among animals, humans and research facilities.

9. No mechanism exists that ensures test results of non-reportable disease(s) are provided to vendor/farmer.
   A mechanism in place to ensure that health issues or pathology results of non-reportable diseases on research animals are given to the vendor/farmer should permit the vendor/farmer to access government resources (e.g. Ministry of Agriculture) to assist with eliminating disease from a herd.

10. Examine the adequacy of control measures of viruses used in research.
    Analyzing current practices with respect to laboratory modified, adapted, and genetically-altered strains of viruses used for research purposes would help prevent “escape” and unwanted recombination.

11. There is a need to look at funding sources that affect animal health and welfare.
    An improved funding mechanism might help alleviate issues in areas where a conflict of interest affects the health and welfare of animals. For example, individual fish farmers fund the development of health management practices that should be applied to the industry as a whole, rather than being subject to confidentiality and being used to gain a competitive edge (recognizing that animal health and welfare is a societal benefit).

Other Issues for the NAHS to Address

• Preserving critical habitat is important to ensure the health and welfare of the animals. Without adequate habitat, neither health nor welfare of animals can be guaranteed. Include issues that relate to maintenance of biodiversity.

• There are fundamental questions that are still unanswered for some vertebrate species (e.g. pain perception in fish). Determine how to address these knowledge gaps.

• Should all animals, species or populations be treated equally? Should this be based on sentiency?  Create definitions for animal pain and disease.

• Identify the useful indicators of pain and distress, as well as mitigation strategies, and examine barriers to mitigation (e.g. farm income, labour, infrastructure costs, delivery systems, etc.)

• Provide national guidelines for the provision of pain control during common husbandry practices on farm animals (e.g. castration, dehorning and branding).

• Establish nationally accepted, scientifically validated indicators of health.

• Consider a sector for zoonotic and exotic diseases.

• Ensure that there are strategies to preserve and maintain unique animals (because of genetics or research focus), specifically, in the event of a local, regional or national health challenges.

• Monitor the animals included in the strategy, which would assist in identifying and managing new issues within an agreed upon standard (e.g. in Scandinavian countries, data banks on farm animal health exist with standards set, such as ≤ 15% lameness in cattle).