Report of the Working Group on Animal Distress in the Laboratory.
Finding ways to minimize pain and distress in research animals is a continuing goal in the laboratory animal research field. Pain and distress, however, are not synonymous, and measures that alleviate one may not affect the other. Here, the authors provide a summary of a meeting held in February 2004 that focused on distress in laboratory animals. They discuss the difficulties associated with defining 'distress,' propose methods to aid in recognizing and alleviating distressful conditions, and provide recommendations for animal research conduct and oversight that would minimize distress experienced by laboratory animals.
Brown
Marilyn
M
Charles River Laboratories Foundation, 251 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA.
Carbone
Larry
L
Conlee
Kathleen M
KM
Dawkins
Marian S
MS
Duncan
Ian J
IJ
Fraser
David
D
Griffin
Gilly
G
Hampshire
Victoria A
VA
Lambert
Lesley A
LA
Mench
Joy A
JA
Morton
David
D
Richmond
Jon
J
Rollin
Bernard E
BE
Rowan
Andrew N
AN
Stephens
Martin L
ML
Würbel
Hanno
H
D035661:Animal Care Committees; D032761:Animal Experimentation / Q000592:standards*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D010146:Pain / Q000662:veterinary*