Animal Research in Spain: A Study of Public Perception and Attitudes

  1. Miguel-Batuecas, Andrea 2
  2. Fuertes-Recuero, Manuel 1
  3. Díaz Regañón, David R. 3
  4. Ortiz Díez, Gustavo 3
  5. Revuelta, Luis 1
  6. Pablo Moreno, Juan Andrés de 2
  1. 1 Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
  2. 2 Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, School of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
  3. 3 Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Mostrar afiliaciones +
Revista:
Animals

ISSN: 2076-2615

Año de publicación: 2023

Volumen: 13

Número: 12

Páginas: 2039

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.3390/ANI13122039 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Animals

Objetivos de desarrollo sostenible

Resumen

Since the time of Hippocrates in the 4th century BC, animal research has been extensively used for various purposes up to the present day. However, the use of animals for research has also been controversial for a long time. We report the findings of a public, online questionnaire-based survey designed to assess the opinions of a sample of Spanish society regarding animal research. Demographic data and opinions were obtained from 806 respondents. The results indicated a high level of acceptance of animal research (73.1%). However, certain factors, such as completing the questionnaire immediately after a reading negative media report (OR = 2.41; 95%CI: 1.64–3.54; p < 0.001), being a woman (OR = 1.77; 95%CI: 1.24–2.53; p = 0.002) or having a non-scientific background (OR = 2.47; 95%CI: 1.76–3.47; p < 0.001), were associated with a tendency towards a more negative opinion. The opinions seemed to be influenced by gender, education level and by protest incidents reported in the media. Our results also indicate that a lot of information regarding animal welfare, such as care and handling protocols, along with legislation was unknown to individuals. Further, a growing popularity of companion species and opposition to animal experimentation for non-biomedical purposes were reflected in the responses obtained. The use of animals for research purposes emerged as a sensitive social issue in terms of concerns about animal ethics and welfare.

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Petetta, (2021), Addict. Biol., 26, pp. e12991, 10.1111/adb.12991
  • Rahman, (2020), Indian J. Gastroenterol., 39, pp. 292, 10.1007/s12664-020-01056-5
  • Kropp, (2017), Bioessays, 39, pp. 1600258, 10.1002/bies.201600258
  • Polejaeva, (2016), Reprod. Fertil. Dev., 28, pp. 112, 10.1071/RD15343
  • Ericsson, (2013), Mol. Med., 110, pp. 201
  • Meigs, (2018), ALTEX, 35, pp. 275, 10.14573/altex.1807041
  • Robinson, (2019), Int. J. Surg., 72, pp. 9, 10.1016/j.ijsu.2019.10.015
  • Sun, (2020), Cell Host Microbe, 28, pp. 124, 10.1016/j.chom.2020.05.020
  • Rahman, M.T., Sobur, M.A., Islam, M.S., Ievy, S., Hossain, M.J., El Zowalaty, M.E., Rahman, A.T., and Ashour, H.M. (2020). Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control. Microorganisms, 8.
  • Orusa, T., Orusa, R., Viani, A., Carella, E., and Borgogno Mondino, E. (2020). Geomatics and EO Data to Support Wildlife Diseases Assessment at Landscape Level: A Pilot Experience to Map Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis in Chamois and Phenological Trends in Aosta Valley (NW Italy). Remote Sens., 12.
  • Viani, A., Orusa, T., Borgogno-Mondino, E., and Orusa, R. (2023). Snow Metrics as Proxy to Assess Sarcoptic Mange in Wild Boar: Preliminary Results in Aosta Valley (Italy). Life, 13.
  • Akhtar, (2015), Camb. Q. Healthc. Ethics, 24, pp. 407, 10.1017/S0963180115000079
  • European Parliament and the Council (2023, May 11). Directive 2010/63/EU: Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32010L0063.
  • US Government (2023, May 11). The Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Available online: https://www.nal.usda.gov/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare-act.
  • UK Government (2023, May 11). Animal Welfare Act, Available online: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents.
  • Cheluvappa, (2017), Pharmacol. Res. Perspect., 5, pp. e00332, 10.1002/prp2.332
  • Hartung, (2009), ALTEX, 26, pp. 255, 10.14573/altex.2009.4.255
  • Daneshian, (2011), ALTEX, 28, pp. 341, 10.14573/altex.2011.4.341
  • Bracken, (2009), J. R. Soc. Med., 102, pp. 120, 10.1258/jrsm.2008.08k033
  • Khoury, (2020), Nat. Rev. Immunol., 20, pp. 727, 10.1038/s41577-020-00471-1
  • Ribitsch, (2020), Bioeng. Biotechnol., 8, pp. 972
  • Swearengen, (2018), Anim. Models Exp. Med., 1, pp. 100, 10.1002/ame2.12020
  • Freires, (2017), Pharm. Res., 34, pp. 681, 10.1007/s11095-016-2069-z
  • Vila, (2022), Lab. Anim. Res., 38, pp. 14, 10.1186/s42826-022-00124-5
  • Merkley, (2018), Altern. Lab. Anim., 46, pp. 133, 10.1177/026119291804600308
  • Navarro, (2001), Psychol. Rep., 89, pp. 227, 10.2466/pr0.2001.89.2.227
  • Uchikoshi, (2019), Exp. Anim., 68, pp. 307, 10.1538/expanim.19-0001
  • Clemence, M., and Leaman, J. (2023, May 11). Public Attitudes to Animal Research in 2016. Available online: https://doc.ukdataservice.ac.uk/doc/8059/mrdoc/pdf/8059_ols_public_attitudes_to_animal_research_report.pdf.
  • Eldridge, (1996), Ethics Behav., 6, pp. 239, 10.1207/s15327019eb0603_5
  • Hagelin, (2003), Public Underst. Sci., 12, pp. 67, 10.1177/0963662503012001247
  • Herzog, (1991), Anthrozoös, 4, pp. 184, 10.2752/089279391787057170
  • Sandgren, E.P., Streiffer, R., Dykema, J., Assad, N., and Moberg, J. (2020). Attitudes toward animals, and how species and purpose affect animal research justifiability, among undergraduate students and faculty. PLoS ONE, 15.
  • Ormandy, (2014), Animals, 4, pp. 391, 10.3390/ani4030391
  • Riddle, E., and MacKay, J.R.D. (2020). Social Media Contexts Moderate Perceptions of Animals. Animals, 10.
  • (2022), Nat. Med., 28, pp. 460, 10.1038/s41591-022-01713-6
  • Hagelin, (2000), Vet. Rec., 146, pp. 757, 10.1136/vr.146.26.757
  • Reddy, (2021), Cult. Sci., 4, pp. 6, 10.1177/20966083211009646
  • Government of Spain (2023, May 11). Royal Decree 53/2013: Establishing the Basic Rules Applicable to the Protection of Animals Used in Experimentation and Other Scientific Purposes, including Teaching. Available online: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2013-1337.
  • Festing, (2008), Bioessays, 30, pp. 94, 10.1002/bies.20699
  • Iki, (2017), Exp. Anim., 66, pp. 313, 10.1538/expanim.17-0026
  • Redacción EFEverde (2023, May 11). Suspenden la Actividad del Laboratorio Vivotecnia Tras ver Indicios de Maltrato Animal. Available online: https://n9.cl/zjdv6.
  • (2017), Lab. Anim., 46, pp. 33, 10.1038/laban.1186
  • Pejman, (2021), J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci., 26, pp. 1
  • Aske, (2017), EMBO Rep., 18, pp. 1490, 10.15252/embr.201744428