From Fish to Mice to Monkeys in Research: Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Well-being (2025)

Serageldine, C. E., Robinson-Junker, A., Alvino, G. et al.

Abstract

This chapter focuses mainly on animals in medical research. Many, especially the smaller species such as rat, mice, and zebrafish, may be seen only a few minutes a day by their human caregivers. Most laboratory animals are kept in confinement for all or most of their lives. Many research projects include intensive handling and restraint to administer test substances or to collect tissues and data. Housing varies from groups of nearly identical mice in rooms housing thousands of animals, to singly caged monkeys or pigs to large outdoor corals for primates or hoof stock.