Publications

Thermoneutral environment improves mouse welfare and reduces stress in metabolic cages

Metabolic cages (MCs) are often used to collect feces and urine samples. However, the housing of mice in MCs can be stressful, potentially affecting parameters of interest. Here we compare our standard protocol for individual MC housing (4 days at 23 °C:...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Villiger, P., Calvet, C., Pastor-Arroyo, E. M. et al. 2025. Thermoneutral environment improves mouse welfare and reduces stress in metabolic cages. Lab Animal 54(11), 303–312.

A customised combination of environmental enrichment reduces aggression in CD-1 male mice

Murine aggression has profound implications on animal welfare and husbandry. This report examines how three distinct combinations of environmental enrichment – wheel, igloo and tunnel; wheel, igloo, and tunnel with nesting; and tunnel with nesting – affect aggressive behaviour in...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Veness, A., Galichet, C., Murphy, S. et al. 2025. A customised combination of environmental enrichment reduces aggression in CD-1 male mice. Laboratory Animals 59(5), 588–592.

Habituation with apparatus and group testing improves assessment of fish preferences

Preference tests are commonly used to assess fish behavior and cognition in several research fields. This study aimed to investigate how fish perform in a preference test involving extended habituation to the apparatus, which was expected to reduce stress. We...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Varracchio, C., Paci, F. P., Bertolucci, C. et al. 2025. Habituation with apparatus and group testing improves assessment of fish preferences. Journal of Fish Biology 107(4), 1149–1158.

Alfaxalone as a total intravenous anesthesia protocol in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) improves cardiovascular stability compared to isoflurane

Alfaxalone has been studied for anesthetic induction of rabbits with rapid onset and a short duration of action; however, it has been minimally evaluated as an option for anesthetic maintenance. This study compared alfaxalone-based total intravenous anesthesia maintenance protocols against...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Tsai, J. Y., Palomera, E. E., Kundo, J. P. et al. 2025. Alfaxalone as a total intravenous anesthesia protocol in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) improves cardiovascular stability compared to isoflurane. JAALAS 64(5), 932–939.

Accuracy of smartwatches for measuring heart rate and oxygen saturation in cynomolgus macaques compared to clinical standards

Continuous monitoring of physiological parameters in non-human primates (NHPs) necessitates a precise, non-invasive, and convenient method. This study aimed to validate the use of smartwatches with integrated pulse oximetry and heart rate (HR) monitoring capabilities for use in NHPs. Currently,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Tiplady, M., Douchant, K., Winterborn, A. N. 2025. Accuracy of smartwatches for measuring heart rate and oxygen saturation in cynomolgus macaques compared to clinical standards. Laboratory Animals 59(4), 508–517.

Sex and strain differences in the micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) method in mice

To provide an alternative to oral gavage for per os treatments in laboratory mice, we have recently developed and introduced the micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) method. This procedure is based on the presentation of a palatable solution consisting of sweetened...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Steiner, S., Krzyzaniak, O., Nilsson, F. A. M. et al. 2025. Sex and strain differences in the micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) method in mice. Laboratory Animals 59(5), 578–587.

Adult chicken hens express their affective states via bare facial skin blushing and head feather movements

In mammals, facial expressions serve as a window into a variety of affective states. Emotional facial expressions in birds have received little scientific attention. Juvenile hens showed variations in their facial display, facial redness and head feather position, depending on...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Soulet, D., Love, S. A., Blache, M.-C. et al. 2025. Adult chicken hens express their affective states via bare facial skin blushing and head feather movements. Animal Behaviour 227, 123277.

Managed care of naked mole-rats

Naked mole-rats are a burgeoning model species in the field of biomedical research and are also housed at many zoos throughout the world. These mammals possess many traits that have a large impact on the way that they are kept...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Rearing & Weaning, Relocation & Transport, Reproduction, Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Smith, M., Buffenstein, R. 2021. Managed care of naked mole-rats. In: R. Buffenstein, T. J. Park, M. M. Holmes (Eds.), The Extraordinary Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat. Springer International Publishing, pp. 381–407.

Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others

Environmental enrichment is important for the long-term wellbeing of captive organisms and is an understudied topic in aquatic taxa, particularly ectothermic organisms such as elasmobranchs. This study examines how individual elasmobranchs use environmental enrichment objects before and after feeding. The...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Smith, A. B., Landesman, J., Williamson, L. et al. 2025. Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106829.

Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting

Universities offering veterinary and equine science education typically keep horses to support teaching and research activities. The Australian Code requires approval of horse use by an independent Animal Ethics Committee and that cumulative use over an individual’s working lifetime is...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Skyner, L., Wassens, S., Dennis, A. et al. 2025. Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 80, 39–48.