History of the usage of laboratory animals in India

Laboratory animals are those that can be bred and reared/conserved in the laboratory under appropriate environments and planned for use in experiments, testing, or training. The ordinary laboratory animals are rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. The additional animals used for experimental function are cat, dog, frog, monkey, pigeon etc.

Definitions of laboratory animals:

According to NRC-2011, “Laboratory animals are any vertebrate animals produced for or used in research, testing or teaching”.

According to OIE, 2012, “Laboratory animal is an animal intended for use in research”.

A Laboratory animal is any live vertebrate animal (and any other animal designated by applicable legislation) used or planned for use in research, testing, or teaching. For approval purposes, the description is not restricted by the type of housing enclosure (e.g., cage, pen, paddock, fallow, tank, raceway, etc.) - AAALAC International (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International).

Laboratory animals in small animals are another imperative faction of animals that are accomplished by humans, typically in custody. Animals have been used in therapeutic research from as far away as 129-199 A.D. when Galen, a Greek medical researcher, used a pig for his experimentations. In the 16^th and 17^th eras, structural observations were conducted on animals; Galvani used frogs in 1791 for his trials and the Russian physiologist, Pavlov, conducted his famous dog experiments in the early 1900s. Since then, big numbers of animals have been used in biomedical and other investigations with severe associations to their welfare. The guiding principle, rules, protocols, Acts and global contracts have also been established concurrently to anticipate humane methods of animal research and testing.

In maximum instances, the lab animals are bred purposively to have a definite physiological, metabolic, genetic or pathogen-free condition. More than 115 million animals are used for animal research around the world every year. These animals practice anxiety, pain and distress before, during and after research. In most cases, animals are killed during or after the experiment. Presently, in India, there are approximately 1747 animal facilities listed with CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals) for managing experimental animals.

Also read:- Definition and classification of laboratory animals

History

Since the 2^nd century, animals have been used in biomedical research to recognise numerous diseases and discovery of medications. Generally, experiments on animals competed for a crucial role in identifying the anatomy and physiology of the human body as well.

Recently, the growth of important treatments and anticipatory behaviours, comprising antibiotics, hormones, vaccines, organ replacement and recent medications, have implicated animal study and testing. Animals are used extensively for safety evaluation and effectiveness testing of nearly all new compounds, pesticides, end-user products, medications, medical devices, vaccines and many other goods. This is not only the necessity of governing organisations of particular nations but also to defend and improve the health of people, animals and the atmosphere.

Laboratory-based research is necessary to expose biological procedures and preclinical testing. The extreme drug discoveries in the 19th and 20th centuries were probably because of the use of animals. Over the last century, almost every Nobel Prize-winning medical research was reliant on the use of animals in the study.

Major areas where the laboratory animals are used

Drug development: For the advancement of new drugs for both humans and animals.

Toxicity (safety) testing: To assess the safety of new outcomes i.e., drugs, food additives.

Basic research: It is curiosity-driven research i.e., new models of human diseases.

Education: To teach biology scholars (including veterinary students) new investigators and physicians.

In the late 19th century, India has undergone the institutionalization of bacteriology research laboratories:

·         Royal Bacteriology Laboratory at Pune (1890)

·         Bacteriology Research laboratory at Agra (1892)

·         Plague Research Laboratory in Mumbai (1896)

·         Pasteur Institute of India at Kasuli (1900), Coonoor (1907), Rangoon (1916), Shillong (1917) and Kolkatta (1924)

·         Central Research Institute (CRI) at Kasuli (1905).

With the formation of these institutions, the laboratory research and ethical conduct of lab animals expected serious measurement as these institutes used enormous animal resources.

As we go across history, the animal trials in India were introduced in the 1860s, as the then British Govt. tried to initiate various chemical drugs in India which required experiments on animals to become compulsory.

Discussion about experimental lab animals

The effectiveness and significance of the diverse kinds of investigation on animals required to be observed, for the degree of pain and suffering that they may suffer in research. To make sure decent scientific study, the lab animal should have standard physiology and activities, apart from precise adverse effects under examination. On systematic as well as ethical sediments, consequently, the psychological welfare of laboratory animals should be a vital concern for lab animal veterinarians, animal technicians and scientists.

On par with global advancements in the welfare of lab animals, in India also numerous measures, guidelines and regulations came into continuation to protect the welfare of lab animals.

Also read:- Definition and classification of laboratory animals