BMJ 2014;348:g4172 doi: 10.1136/bmj.g4172 (Published 24 June 2014)
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS UTILITY OF ANIMAL RESEARCH
Importance of animal research in zoonoses G V Asokan epidemiologist and head of public health programme College of Health Sciences, University of Bahrain, PO Box 32038, Salmanya Medical Complex, Bahrain
Pound and Bracken’s observations on the failure of animal research to translate evidence to humans stem mostly from poor design and conduct of animal research.1
These observations, however, do not apply to zoonotic diseases, which infect multiple species and constitute more than 60% and 75% of known and emerging infectious diseases, respectively.2 The causes, risks, and treatment of zoonotic diseases are similar across multiple species. Treatment efficacy is also thought to be similar across multiple species, so it is prudent to demand scientifically valid evidence from animal experiments that is applicable to multiple species, including humans.3 A paucity of evidence from animal experiments will greatly affect not only humans but also multiple species. To make animal experiments similar to clinical trials, researchers need to follow the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guidelines4 and SYRCLE (Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) publication checklist.5 They should also produce evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal experiments for comparison with clinical trials that may be aligned to the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and
Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES).6
Essentially, in the context of zoonoses, and in other infectious and non-communicable diseases, investment in animal research is invaluable to generate evidence, until a more simple and sensitive method for demonstrating the evidence is available. Competing interests: None declared. Full response at: www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3387/rr/702674. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Pound P, Bracken MB. Is animal research sufficiently evidence based to be a cornerstone of biomedical research? BMJ 2014;348:g3387. (30 May.) Taylor LH, Latham SM, Woolhouse MEJ. Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2001;356:983-9. Asokan GV, Fedorowicz Z, Tharyan P, Vanitha A. One health: perspectives on ethical issues and evidence from animal experiments. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 2012;18:1170-3. National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. Animal research: reporting of in vivo experiments. www.nc3rs.org.uk/downloaddoc.asp? id=1206&page=1357&skin=0 Radboudumc. About SYRCLE. www.radboudumc.nl/Research/Organisationofresearch/ Departments/cdl/SYRCLE/Pages/AboutSYRCLE.aspx. CAMARADES. www.dcn.ed.ac.uk/camarades//.
Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g4172 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS UTILITY OF ANIMAL RESEARCH
Importance of animal research in zoonoses G V Asokan epidemiologist and head of public health programme College of Health Sciences, University of Bahrain, PO Box 32038, Salmanya Medical Complex, Bahrain
Pound and Bracken’s observations on the failure of animal research to translate evidence to humans stem mostly from poor design and conduct of animal research.1
These observations, however, do not apply to zoonotic diseases, which infect multiple species and constitute more than 60% and 75% of known and emerging infectious diseases, respectively.2 The causes, risks, and treatment of zoonotic diseases are similar across multiple species. Treatment efficacy is also thought to be similar across multiple species, so it is prudent to demand scientifically valid evidence from animal experiments that is applicable to multiple species, including humans.3 A paucity of evidence from animal experiments will greatly affect not only humans but also multiple species. To make animal experiments similar to clinical trials, researchers need to follow the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guidelines4 and SYRCLE (Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) publication checklist.5 They should also produce evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal experiments for comparison with clinical trials that may be aligned to the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and
Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES).6
Essentially, in the context of zoonoses, and in other infectious and non-communicable diseases, investment in animal research is invaluable to generate evidence, until a more simple and sensitive method for demonstrating the evidence is available. Competing interests: None declared. Full response at: www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3387/rr/702674. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Pound P, Bracken MB. Is animal research sufficiently evidence based to be a cornerstone of biomedical research? BMJ 2014;348:g3387. (30 May.) Taylor LH, Latham SM, Woolhouse MEJ. Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2001;356:983-9. Asokan GV, Fedorowicz Z, Tharyan P, Vanitha A. One health: perspectives on ethical issues and evidence from animal experiments. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 2012;18:1170-3. National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. Animal research: reporting of in vivo experiments. www.nc3rs.org.uk/downloaddoc.asp? id=1206&page=1357&skin=0 Radboudumc. About SYRCLE. www.radboudumc.nl/Research/Organisationofresearch/ Departments/cdl/SYRCLE/Pages/AboutSYRCLE.aspx. CAMARADES. www.dcn.ed.ac.uk/camarades//.
Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g4172 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
