Publications

Ultrasonic vocalisation as a measure of positive welfare in rats

Studies of animal welfare in laboratory animals have historically relied on the measurement of negative indicators rather than the assessment of positive indicators of welfare. Practical methods of welfare assessment are required to allow refinement of housing and experimental protocols....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, VocalizationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Jones, T., Robinson, M., Leach, M. et al. 2017. Ultrasonic vocalisation as a measure of positive welfare in rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 127-129.

Rabbits housed in pens: Do they have an enrichment preference?

Since the antibody production facility at Envigo RMS opened in 2015 we have been offering our rabbits a variety of disposable and non-disposable enrichment in a floor pen arrangement. There is a perception that our rabbits have a preference for...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Devenport, M., Levent, S., Storer, R. 2017. Rabbits housed in pens: Do they have an enrichment preference? Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 130-132.

Social interaction for non-sibling pregnant New Zealand white rabbits on reproductive toxicology

Rabbits are gregarious animals that live in social groups in the wild so individually housing our animals, while meeting the present scientific objectives, restricts their natural social behaviour. How to meet the social needs of our rabbits while maintaining a...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Holmes, J., Waters, D., Maisonave, I. et al. 2017. Social interaction for non-sibling pregnant New Zealand white rabbits on reproductive toxicology. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 139-141.

Refinements in housing during data capture in long term Safety Pharmacology dogs

Dogs are individually housed when collecting data for ECG studies to avoid any cross talk between transmitted signals (generally for a 24 hour recording period). Each implant is set at a certain frequency which transmits via radio frequency. Implants with...

Year Published: 2017Topics: External Bodily Equipment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Bailey, C. 2017. Refinements in housing during data capture in long term Safety Pharmacology dogs. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 147-149.

3Rs improvements in the Bexsero® (Meningitis B) vaccine

Bexsero® is a new vaccine in the UK which since September 2015 has been added to the childhood immunisation programme for the prevention of Meningitis B. The in-vivo test as performed in Biological Services Division (BSD) uses female CD1 mice...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Analgesia, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ferguson, R. 3Rs improvements in the Bexsero® (Meningitis B) vaccine. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 150-152.

Refining the palpation technique to improve monitoring in the transgenic mouse

We have developed an accurate method of detecting and monitoring internal ovarian tumours. This reduces the number of procedures, refines the way we detect internal tumours and defines an end point before animals become visibly sick. The problems with the...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Forrest, G., Whitfield, L., Thapa, A. 2017. Refining the palpation technique to improve monitoring in the transgenic mouse. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 153-154.

Do Buccal swabs from Zebrafish give enough of a sample of DNA to be used as a viable non-invasive method of genotyping? Animal Technology and Welfare 16(3), 155-164

The zebrafish has become a valuable research model within the laboratory. Currently the proven method of genotyping involves taking a tail fin clip from the fish to gain the sample. This involves surgically removing a piece of the tail fin...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Identification MethodAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Lawton, S. 2017. Do Buccal swabs from Zebrafish give enough of a sample of DNA to be used as a viable non-invasive method of genotyping? Animal Technology and Welfare 16(3), 155-164.

The curious tale of axolotl enrichment

Axolotls can be used in scientific research to provide fertilised embryos for investigations into the genetic pathways controlling stem cell development. Breeding animals are housed for several years and environmental enrichment is required to improve welfare by providing axolotls greater...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Salamander

Citation: Billingham, E. 2017. The curious tale of axolotl enrichment. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(3), 191-194.

Hair plucking, stress, and urinary cortisol among captive bonobos (Pan paniscus)

Hair plucking has been observed in many captive primate species, including the great apes; however, the etiology of this behavioral pattern is poorly understood. While this behavior has not been reported in wild apes, an ethologically identical behavior in humans,...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Brand, C. M., Boose, K. J., Squires, E. C. et al. 2016. Hair plucking, stress, and urinary cortisol among captive bonobos (Pan paniscus). Zoo Biology 35(5), 415-422.

Optimal rearing density for head starting green turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758)

While ex situ conservation programs of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758), before release to natural habitats, have been conducted in several countries, the optimal‐stocking density for husbandry has not yet been reported. The optimization of stocking density was...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Kanghae, H., Thongprajukaew, K., Jatupornpitukchat, S. et al. 2016. Optimal?rearing density for head?starting green turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758). Zoo Biology 35(5), 454-461.