Lethality testing cases reported in 2024
Numbers of animals that died or were euthanased reflects the fate of animals within the lethality test. This excludes the fate of other animals that were used but that did not die within the lethality testing study (these animals may also have died or been euthanased outside of the lethality testing study in question).
Mice
Number used: 878
Number died (not euthanased): 241
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 35
Procedure: Susceptible animals are challenged with test toxin to determine potency of antigen preparation.
Justification: This test is based upon regulatory requirements for the assessment of in-process products.
Alternatives: There are no alternatives available at this time however the establishment has embarked on a long-term program to develop in vitro assays which may be used to replace existing in vivo assays subject to regulatory approval of these replacement assays.
Mice
Number used: 4248
Number died (not euthanased): 814
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 389
Procedure: Susceptible animals are challenged with test toxin/antibody dilutions to determine antibody titre.
Justification: Regulatory testing required to demonstrate efficacy (potency) of vaccines prior to release. Testing of stability batches and new product formulations.
Alternatives: A project is currently in place with the objective of replacing animal tests with in vitro tests.
Mice
Number used: 1254
Number died (not euthanased): 537
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 109
Procedure: Susceptible animals are challenged with test antigen/toxin/antibody dilutions to determine potency of antigen preparations.
Justification: In-process testing of vaccine constituents to allow evaluation of suitability for further manufacture.
Alternatives: The establishment is developing the use of an alternative assay to quantify toxoid and toxin.
Feral deer
Number used: 826
Number died (not euthanased): 74
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 0
Procedure: Field trials using a targeted feeding structure and non-lethal or lethal bait types.
Justification: Ongoing field trials continue to identify the potential for further development of a target-selective, humane and cost-efficient method as an additional technique for controlling overabundant herbivore pest species.
Alternatives: The purpose of this research is to devise a humane method for killing free-living feral species. There are no alternatives to lethality testing.
Pigs
Number used: 4
Number died (not euthanased): 0
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 0
Procedure: This is a small-scale trial into a method of euthanasia for pigs via a compound in their feed.
Justification: If successful, this technique could be used under veterinary supervision to humanely, and with minimal intrusion, euthanase mature sows and boars on farm. This would reduce the welfare risk to large breeder pigs that can be difficult to successfully and humanely restrain and euthanase via a single captive bolt shot. The animals used in this trial would otherwise be culled by commercially standard methods.
Alternatives: There is no other method to replace the need for this testing.
Rabbits
Number used: 0
Number died (not euthanased): 0
Number euthanased as early endpoint: 0
Procedure: Field trials of biocontrol delivery methods
Justification: Field trials to develop and test novel delivery methods for an existing viral biocontrol agent, to increase effectiveness of pest animal control programs. Project was inactive during the reporting period.
Alternatives: None.