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

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

ISSN: 2076-2615

Year of publication: 2023

Volume: 13

Issue: 12

Pages: 2-15

Type: Article

DOI: 10.3390/ANI13122039 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Animals

Abstract

Although animals are extensively used in experimentation for diverse purposes, ethical concerns have led to reluctance among a certain sector of the population. To find out the opinions of the Spanish population regarding animal research, we conducted a survey, obtaining responses from more than 800 people. While the majority were in favor, some groups were more prone to be against animal experimentation. In addition, we observed that people’s opinions could be altered by reading media reports. We also observed that people did not know about the handling of animals or laws concerning animal testing. Furthermore, we found that people were against the use of animals for non-medical purposes. In general, the survey showed the variety of people’s opinions and their concern for animal welfare.

Bibliographic References

  • 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, 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00972
  • 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