Animal welfare in experimental orthopedic surgery of dogs: an analysis of the Brazilian view

Bem-estar animal em cirurgia ortopédica experimental de cães: uma análise da visão brasileira

ABSTRACT:

The aim of this paper was to conduct a bibliometry search about Brazilian scientific publications that describe experimental orthopedic surgeries in dogs. It was analyzed 14 publications, and there was wide variation in the number of experimental animals, showing that there is no consensus on the appropriate number for science experiment with dogs. Most articles had been reviewed by an ethics committee (13/14, 92.85%) and only two articles (2/14; 14.28%) did not report the use of analgesic protocol. Among analgesics, morphine was the most widely used, noted in seven studies (7/14; 42.85%). In six of the articles (6/14; 42.85%), the final destination of animals was not informed, but in four experiments (4/14; 28.57%) the dogs were euthanized. In four studies (4/14; 28.57%) the animals were sent for adoption. In conclusion, the ethics in animal research in Brazil has advanced, but is necessary proper planning in sample size.

Key words:
analgesia; animal experimentation; ethics committee; surgical orthopedic.

RESUMO:

O objetivo do presente artigo foi realizar uma pesquisa bibliométrica sobre publicações científicas brasileiras que descrevem cirurgias ortopédicas experimentais em cães. Foram analisadas 14 publicações, havendo grande variação no número de animais experimentais, demonstrando que não há consenso sobre o número adequado para um experimento científico ortopédico com cães. A maioria tinha sido analisada por um comitê de ética (13/14; 92,85%) e apenas dois artigos (2/14; 14,28%) não informaram o uso de protocolo analgésico. Entre os analgésicos, a morfina foi a mais utilizada, tendo sido observada em sete estudos (7/14; 42,85%). Em seis publicações (6/14; 42,85%) o destino final dos animais não foi informado, mas em quatro experimentos (4/14; 28,57%) os cães foram eutanasiados. Também em quatro estudos (4/14; 28,57%) os animais foram encaminhados para adoção. Em conclusão, a ética em pesquisa animal no Brasil avançou, mas há necessidade de planejamento adequado no número amostral.

Palavras-chave:
analgesia; cirurgia ortopédica; comitê de ética; experimentação animal.

Since 2008, Brazil passed Law N^o. 11.794 (Arouca Law) that deals about the scientific use of animals. The text of the Law mentions that is essential for the accreditation of institutions with teaching or research activities with animals, the formation of the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (ECAU) (BRASIL, 2008).

Starting from Law, researchers who requested the use of experimental animals, must submit their experiments to the ethics committee. At the same time, periodics now requires the protocol of the committees.

The aim of this article was to conduct a bibliometry search with analysis of Brazilian scientific publications that describe experimental orthopedic surgeries in dogs, published between 2008 and 2016, from the point of view of animal welfare.

It was made a search bibliometric in the site Google scholar using the following expressions: ethics animal committee, experimental surgery in dogs, orthopedic surgery in dogs Brazil. Only publications produced by Brazilian researchers were collected. Articles that were submitted for publication before 2008 (year in which Arouca law was promulgated) and articles that used routine animals (non-experimental) were excluded. With these criteria were rescued 14 publications. After analysis, results were displayed in tables with descriptive analysis.

Currently, one of the basic principles of animal experimentation with ethical and humanitarian way provides for the use of the smallest possible number of animals (DAMY et al., 2010). However, in the 14 analysed articles was observed that there was great variation in the number of experimental animals (Table 1), showing that there is no consensus on the appropriate number for a scientific experiment on dogs, which can lead to a deficiency in the experimental design. The correct calculation for the sample size, is a fundamental point to success in scientific research. This calculation must be performed by appropriate statistical tests to determine the sample size. (MAROTTI et al., 2008; FONTELES et al., 2010). However, by analysing the articles presented here, such calculation was not carried out, resulting in such disparate figures.

Table 1
Analysis of Brazilian publications that describes experimental orthopedic surgeries in dogs from the point of view of animal welfare (n = 14) from 2008 to 2016.

Author and year	Number of the animals	Approval by Ethical Committee	Statistic	Analgesic Protocol	---------------Used analgesic---------------
					Preoperative	Postoperative	Destination of animals
MINTO et al., 2008	10	Y	N	NI	NI	NI	Donation
RICHTER et al., 2009	14	Y	Y	Y	Morphine	Flunixin-meglumine + morphine	NI
SIA et al., 2009	16	NI	Y	Y	Pethidine	NI	Euthanasia (Thiopental + magnesium sulfate)
COELHO et al., 2010	6	Y	Y	Y	NI	Ketoprofen	Euthanasia (anesthetic overdose)
COSTA NETO et al., 2010	10	Y	Y	Y	Ketoprofen + pethidine	Tramadol + ketoprofen	NI
MÜLLER et al., 2010	20	Y	Y	Y	Fentanyl + lidocaine and bupivacaine epidural	Parecoxib + tramadol	NI
OLIVEIRA et al., 2010	18	Y	Y	Y	Fentanyl + morphine	Meloxicam	Adoption
SOUZA et al., 2011	11	Y	Y	Y	Morphine	Morphine + Tramadol + brachial plexus block with lidocaine	Adoption
IAMAGUTI et al., 2012	10	Y	Y	Y	NI	Morphine + meloxicam	NI
IAMAGUTI et al., 2013	10	Y	Y	NI	NI	NI	NI
MULLER et al., 2013	20	Y	Y	Y	Morphine	NI	Adoption
MESSORA et al., 2013	10	Y	Y	Y	Morphine	Tramadol	Euthanasia (thiopental overdose)
SILVA & MANISCALCO, 2013	7	Y	N	Y	Pethidine	Tramadol	NI
VALENTE et al., 2016	15	Y	Y	Y	Morphine + epidural lidocaine	Tramadol	Euthanasia (thiopental overdose + potassium chloride)

• NI: No information Y: Yes N: No

In two studies were not conducted statistical tests (2/14, 14.28%) (Table 1). Using statistical tests the researcher can present more reliable results even with small numbers of animals, featuring a research within the ethical principles recommended by Brazilian Law (BRASIL, 2008). Standardized procedures, accurate methods to measure answers and well-defined objectives allow accept or reject the initial hypothesis, even with the reduced number of animals (PUOPOLO, 2004).

Only two articles (2/14, 14.28%) did not report the use of the analgesics (Table 1). Results of such experiments can be questioned, since it does not alleviate pain, is harmful, physiological functions stays compromised, animals reduce daily food and water intake causing cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, immunosuppression and delayed healing process (SAMPAIO, 2010). In addition, absence of analgesic protocol is impediment to approval of the experiment by ECAU (BRASIL, 2008).

In 10 (10/14, 71.42%) of the 14 articles (Table 1), it was detected the use of analgesics preoperatively (preemptive analgesia). In the case of orthopedic surgical procedures, focus of the study here presented, preemptive analgesia is important for pain control postoperatively (YAMAZAKI et al., 2011).

In two experiments (2/14; 14.28%) did not report the use of analgesics at any time (Table 1). This conduit is not in accordance with animal welfare, since orthopedic procedures induces more intense pain than other surgical procedures, because the bone injury is more painful than soft tissue injury (EKMAN & KOMAN, 2005).

In seven studies (7/14; 50%), there was the use of more than one drug in the analgesic protocol (Table 1), characterizing analgesic protocol called multimodal therapy that aims the association of analgesic drugs with different mechanisms of action or the application of two or more treatment modalities to provide good pain control with minimal adverse effects (LAMONT, 2008).

Among the analgesic, morphine was used most frequently, and has been noted in seven studies (7/14; 42.85%) (Table 1). Morphine is an effective analgesic widely used in Veterinary Medicine (QUANDT et al., 2005) because controls acute pain with efficacy and safety (LAMONT, 2008).

Tramadol was used in six articles (6/14, 42.85%), but only in the postoperative period. The use of tramadol postoperatively as single agent is not sufficient to control postoperative pain in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery, since these surgeries produces severe pain (YAMAZAKI et al., 2011). To be more effective in controlling postoperative pain in this type of surgery, tramadol should be used preoperatively (YAZBEK & FANTONI, 2005).

In two articles (2/14; 14.28%) were used only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), in the control of postoperative pain (Table 1). The NSAIDs used singly are not effective to control pain in orthopedic surgeries in dogs, unless they are employed preoperatively (YAMAZAKI et al, 2011), which did not occur in those studies (COELHO et al., 2010; OLIVEIRA et al., 2010).

About destination of animals, the Arouca Law provides that animals used in research must to be euthanized, according to methods approved by Brazilian Law (BRASIL, 2008). However, of the 14 publications analysed in six of them (6/14, 42.85%), the final destination of the animals was not reported (Table 1). Euthanasia was the destination of animals in four experiments (4/14, 28.57%) (Table 1), and the methods employed are in agreement with the recommendations of the Brazilian Law (BRASIL, 2013).

In four studies (4/14, 28.57%) animals were sent for adoption or donation (Table 1). The Brazilian Law states that, exceptionally, the animals used in experiments or demonstrations which are not subjected to euthanasia may leave the vivarium after the intervention, heard their Ethics Committee, on the criteria of security. Moreover, the animals must be sent to suitable persons or animal protection organization duly legalized, that wants to be responsible for these animals (BRASIL, 2008).

The advancement of ethics in animal research in Brazil was evident since the enactment of the Arouca Law. For comparison, in experimental orthopedic surgery published in 1999 (therefore, before the law was enacted) 30 dogs were used, and all were euthanized (GALVÃO et al., 1999). In the analysed articles the largest sample numbers were 20 dogs (MÜLLER et al., 2010; MULLER et al., 2013). However, there was much disagreement in the sample size, showing lack of consensus among Brazilian researchers, which can hinder the rational use of animals in scientific experiments.

Although, in most studies analgesics have been administered, such conduct was not unanimous, which may even compromise research results.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the Universidade Paranaense (UNIPAR)

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• 0
  CR-2018-0013.R1

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2018

History

• Received
  11 Jan 2018
• Accepted
  07 June 2018
• Reviewed
  13 July 2018