Avoiding mortality

Authors:

Dr Penny Hawkins

Dr Sharon Brookes

James Bussell

Ngaire Dennison

Anne-Marie Farmer

Theresa Langford

Dr Chris Lelliot

Dr Ian Ragan

Kathryn O. Ryder

Dr Sara Wells

Publication:

ISBN: 978-0-901098-17-7A

Publish Date:

09 January 2019

Background

There are legal, ethical, animal welfare, and scientific reasons to avoid mortality. When an animal dies in a research environment, not only is the animal’s life lost, but data and resources are also often lost. Mortality should therefore be closely monitored, challenged and avoided wherever possible. A better understanding of the causes of death, identification of early signs of potential mortality, and implementation of intervention strategies are all required to effectively prevent animal deaths. Achieving zero avoidable mortality should be the goal; there should never be an ‘acceptable’ level because that removes the incentive to challenge the status quo and make further efforts to reduce mortality.

Summary

This report provides guidance to avoid mortality in research and testing. It addresses mortality that could be prevented, such as animals being ‘found dead’ unexpectedly, or during procedures, and challenges the necessity of death as an endpoint. The report proposes several methods to avoid mortality, including reviewing welfare assessments, conducting pilot studies, enhancing staff training, data or record mining, and challenging regulatory requirements. It also highlights areas requiring careful consideration and offers action points for scientists, animal technologists, veterinarians, regulators, and ethics committee members.

Key Actions

Review welfare assessment
Undertake pilot studies
Improve staff training
Implement data or record mining
Review and challenge regulatory requirements

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Further questions

One way is to periodically review welfare assessment protocols, looking at behavioural and physiological indicators, as well as the timing and frequency of observations. This flowchart will help. Welfare assessment protocols and recording systems should always be tailored to the species, protocol and circumstances, with input from animal technologists and the veterinarian.
It may not be possible to achieve a zero mortality rate in practice, especially when there are very large numbers of animals. But working to an ‘acceptable’ mortality rate can take away the incentive to further reduce animal deaths. It is better to always assume that more could be done, and regularly review causes and rates of mortality.
There is a lot that all of these bodies can do. They should be active in establishing and reviewing internal operational processes regarding monitoring, reporting and follow-up in relation to animal welfare. They can also instigate reviews of current in-house welfare assessment protocols, to evaluate how effective they are at detecting early indicators of mortality. This resource sets out helpful ideas and guidance.

Authors

Dr Penny Hawkins - RSPCA Animals in Science Department

Dr Sharon Brookes - Animal and Plant Health Agency

James Bussell - Wellcome Sanger Institute

Ngaire Dennison - University of Dundee

Dr Helmut Ehall - Envigo

Anne-Marie Farmer - University of Cambridge

Theresa Langford - Institute of Animal Technology

Dr Elliot Lilley - RSPCA Animals in Science Department

Dr Chris Lelliot - Wellcome Sanger Institute

Dr Ian Ragan - NC3Rs

Kathryn O. Ryder - Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Dr Sara Wells - Medical Research Council Harwell Institute