Acta Vet. Brno 2019, 88: 249-255
Evaluation of stress in laboratory rabbits used for teaching purposes
This study was intended as a contribution to the argument about possible suffering of animals used for demonstrative purposes during teaching at universities. Pharmacology lectures at the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic were selected for this experiment. The study focused on stress assessment using haematological and biochemical indices. Blood samples were drawn from 20 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus L.) 10 days after arrival at the institute (before the first practical lesson), and then in the 7th and 12th weeks of the semester with practical lessons. The haematological and biochemical indices were compared between the experimental group (n = 10) used for practical demonstrations and the control group (n = 10) which was kept in its hutch. Practical lessons included manipulation with rabbits, health examination, topical or total application and observation of the drugs’ effects. All the acts were carried out by students. Significant changes were detected in some of haematological (erythrocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit) and biochemical (glucose, total protein, enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) variables compared to the control group. The values obtained from the last blood sampling indicate a possible habituation process in the experimental group between the 8th and 12th week. The results were compared between the experimental and control group and also with the results of other studies with different stressors. In conclusion, the stress the rabbits used for teaching purposes at universities are exposed to, is tolerable.
Funding
The study was supported by the IGA VFU 122/2017 FVL.
