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Species Selection
In accordance with CCAC policy and adherence to the Three Rs, animals should be used only after the investigator's best efforts to find a non-animal model have failed (Replacement alternative). If animals are used, then investigators must employ the most humane methods on the smallest number of appropriate animals required to obtain valid information (Reduction and Refinement alternatives). An important part of adherence to the Three Rs involves careful species selection.
Many factors contribute to species selection, including scientific or educational objectives, availability, regulatory requirements, and public concern. In some cases, a scientist must use the typical model in the field and will have limited flexibility to consider other species. However, a new literature search should always be undertaken to: 1) determine or confirm the best species for the scientific objective; and 2) to find the most recent Three Rs information relating to the species and planned procedures. Some Replacement, Reduction and Refinement alternatives to consider when selecting a species include:
Replacement and species selection
- using species that current scientific evidence indicates have a significantly lower potential for pain perception, such as some invertebrates instead of more sentient species, such as vertebrates.
Reduction and species selection
- using the most appropriate species and/or well-characterized species to improve the quality and meaningfulness of the information collected in the study and avoid the need to repeat a study;
- using pilot studies to demonstrate that the proposed species is fit for the scientific purpose.
- using larger animals when it may decrease the overall number of animals that must be used to obtain sufficient quantities of blood and tissue; and
- using species with larger litter sizes if it means fewer animals will be used when infants/newborns/neonates are the experimental unit.
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Refinement and species selection
- ensuring that the research facility is able to properly house and care for the species, including accommodation of the species’ behavioural and companionship needs;
- ensuring that competent welfare assessments of the species can be made, including knowledge of pain and pain management in the species; and
- using purpose-bred species rather than wild caught.
(This section has been adapted from the NC3Rs)
For more information on species selection, the following resources may be useful:
- (2007) Animal Models Used in the Study of Movement Disorders. ILAR 48(4).
- (2006) Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. ILAR 47(3).
- (2006) Animal Models of Diseases Related to the Fetus and Newborn. ILAR 47(1).
- (2004) Nontraditional Animal Models for Laboratory Research. ILAR 45(1).
- (2004) Nonhuman Primate and Other Animal Models of Women’s Health. ILAR 45(2).
- (2004) Animal Models and Design Considerations for Endocrine Disruptor Research. ILAR 45(4).
- The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) (2008). Mouse Databases.
- This website has a comprehensive list of mouse databases organized by sub-topic (e.g., transgenic and knockout), with a brief description of the information in each database.
- Smith D. & Trennary P. (2002) Non-rodent selection in pharmaceutical toxicology. 8pp. Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) & UK Home Office.
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