Recommended set

16. Animal care and monitoring Describe the humane endpoints established for the study, the signs that were monitored, and the frequency of monitoring. If the study did not have humane endpoints, state this. explanation

16a Describe any interventions or steps taken in the experimental protocols to reduce pain, suffering, and distress.
16b Report any expected or unexpected adverse events.
16c Describe the humane endpoints established for the study, the signs that were monitored, and the frequency of monitoring. If the study did not have humane endpoints, state this.
Explanation
Examples

Humane endpoints are predetermined morphological, physiological and/or behavioural signs that define the circumstances under which an animal will be removed from an experimental study. The use of humane endpoints can help minimise harm while allowing the scientific objectives to be achieved [1]. Report the humane endpoints that were established for the specific study, species and strain. Include clear criteria of the clinical signs monitored [2], and clinical signs that led to euthanasia or other defined actions. Include details such as general welfare indicators (e.g. weight loss, reduced food intake, abnormal posture) and procedure-specific welfare indicators (e.g. tumour size in cancer studies [3], sensory motor deficits in stroke studies [4]).

Report the timing and frequency of monitoring, taking into consideration the normal circadian rhythm of the animal and timing of scientific procedures, as well as any increase in the frequency of monitoring (e.g. post-surgery recovery, critical times during disease studies, or following the observation of an adverse event). Publishing score sheets of the clinical signs that were monitored [5] can help guide other researchers to develop clinically relevant welfare assessments, particularly for studies reporting novel procedures.

This information should be reported even if no animal reached any of the humane endpoints. If no humane endpoints were established for the study, explicitly state this.

 

References

  1. Hendriksen C, Morton D and Cussler K (2011). Use of humane endpoints to minimise suffering. From: The COST manual of animal care and use. CRC Press, Florida, USA. https://www.cost.eu/publications/the-cost-manual-of-laboratory-animal-care-and-use-refinement-reduction-and-research/   
  2. Hawkins P, Morton DB, Burman O, Dennison N, Honess P, Jennings M, Lane S, Middleton V, Roughan JV, Wells S and Westwood K (2011). A guide to defining and implementing protocols for the welfare assessment of laboratory animals: eleventh report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement. Laboratory Animals. doi: 10.1258/la.2010.010031
  3. Workman P, Aboagye EO, Balkwill F, Balmain A, Bruder G, Chaplin DJ, Double JA, Everitt J, Farningham DAH, Glennie MJ, Kelland LR, Robinson V, Stratford IJ, Tozer GM, Watson S, Wedge SR, Eccles SA and An ad hoc committee of the National Cancer Research I (2010). Guidelines for the welfare and use of animals in cancer research. British Journal Of Cancer. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605642
  4. Percie du Sert N, Alfieri A, Allan SM, Carswell HV, Deuchar GA, Farr TD, Flecknell P, Gallagher L, Gibson CL, Haley MJ, Macleod MR, McColl BW, McCabe C, Morancho A, Moon LD, O'Neill MJ, Perez de Puig I, Planas A, Ragan CI, Rosell A, Roy LA, Ryder KO, Simats A, Sena ES, Sutherland BA, Tricklebank MD, Trueman RC, Whitfield L, Wong R and Macrae IM (2017). The IMPROVE Guidelines (Ischaemia Models: Procedural Refinements Of in Vivo Experiments). J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. doi: 10.1177/0271678X17709185
  5. Morton DB (2000). A systematic approach for establishing humane endpoints. ILAR Journal. doi: 10.1093/ilar.41.2.80