实验动物运输中的福利保障

The Welfare of Laboratory Animals during Transport

运输动物可能发生在各个动物生产或使用单位的内部,也可能发生在动物供应商与用户之间,对于野生动物,还可能会发生在捕捉地点与饲养设施之间。动物的运输过程中,许多的方面可能对动物福利产生直接的影响。包括搬运,从熟悉的同种中隔离及可能的单独饲养,被装载在不熟悉的运输容器中,装卸,运输途中的运动、震动、包括加速和减速,为保证平衡导致的紧张(特别是大动物),不熟悉的信息、声音和气味,温度和湿度的波动及极端温度,黑暗(避光设置),被停止供食或无采食和饮水意愿,最终用户提供的新环境和程序,不熟悉的人和可能社会等级竞争重构健等均是潜在造成动物应激的因素。认真评估和组织运输中的各个方面,人道对待所运输的动物对保障研究的质量和动物福利是必须的。本文简单论述了运输对实验动物福利的影响及造成这些影响的潜在因素、评价指标。推荐了一个人道运输实验动物的通行准则,以及一些有价值的文献数据。更加详细的内容可以阅读参考文献的原文。

Animal transportation may be intra-institutional, or between a commercial or noncommercial source and a research facility. For wildlife, transportation may occur between the capture site and field holding facilities. Many aspects of the animal transport may have an impact on animal welfare, such as handling, separation from fa- mifiar conspecifics, possibly individual housing, confinement in an unfamiliar transport container, loading and un- loading, movement and vibrations during the journey, including acceleration and deceleration. Physical stress due to maintaining balance （especially larger animals）, unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells, fluctuations in tempera- ture and humidity, withholding of food, or voluntary abstention from eating or drinking, disruption of light （ dark regime）, new housing and care protocols at the end user establishment, including unfamiliar, humans and possibly new social groups or hierarchies are potential sources of stress for animals undergoing transport. Critical appraisal and refinement of all these organizational aspects of transport is essential if animal welfare is to be safeguarded during journeys. The article briefly discuss the impacts of transport on animal welfare and the potential sources of stress for animals undergoing transport as well as the assessment measures of animal welfare during transport. Recommend general guidelines for humane transport of laboratory animals, and some valuable literature data. Recommend to read the original references for details.