Assessing the welfare of genetically altered mice.
In 2003, under the auspices of the main UK funders of biological and biomedical research, a working group was established with a remit to review potential welfare issues for genetically altered (GA) mice, to summarize current practice, and to recommend contemporary best practice for welfare assessments. The working group has produced a report which makes practical recommendations for GA mouse welfare assessment and dissemination of welfare information between establishments using a 'mouse passport'. The report can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk/GAmice and www.lal.org.uk/gaa and includes templates for the recommended welfare assessment scheme and the mouse passport. An overview is provided below.
Wells
D J
DJ
Department of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, UK.
Playle
L C
LC
Enser
W E J
WE
Flecknell
P A
PA
Gardiner
M A
MA
Holland
J
J
Howard
B R
BR
Hubrecht
R
R
Humphreys
K R
KR
Jackson
I J
IJ
Lane
N
N
Maconochie
M
M
Mason
G
G
Morton
D B
DB
Raymond
R
R
Robinson
V
V
Smith
J A
JA
Watt
N
N
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D051379:Mice