Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals: Second Edition

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 1538

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
2. 3R Centre JLU Giessen, Interdisciplinary Centre for 3Rs in Animal Research (ICAR3R), Giessen, Germany
Interests: stereotypies in laboratory rodents; assessment of suffering; 3R education; culture of care
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The well-being of laboratory animals remains a central concern in biomedical research, with growing recognition of their intrinsic value and their capacity for sensory perception and suffering. Recent advancements in animal welfare research have deepened our understanding of the complex needs of laboratory animals, highlighting the ethical responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in their care.

In the face of these responsibilities, continuous improvement in care practices is essential to ensure that animals are housed in environments that best support their physical and psychological needs. The concept of care goes beyond routine husbandry—it involves a comprehensive approach that includes knowledge, empathy, and responsibility, with all actors contributing to the overall welfare of the animals.

The challenge of maintaining optimal well-being in laboratory animals is heightened by the artificial, often stressful environments in which they live. To truly address their needs, it is crucial to shift the perspective towards understanding how these animals experience their surroundings and how their needs can be met effectively.

This Special Issue will once again explore the latest insights on the care and well-being of laboratory animals, incorporating diverse perspectives from research, ethics, and practical implementation. We invite contributions that reflect current advancements and explore innovative solutions to improve the lives of laboratory animals.

Prof. Dr. Stephanie Krämer
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • 3Rs
  • refinement
  • animal well-being
  • animal welfare
  • laboratory animal science

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1437 KB  
Article
Implementing Culture of Care in Germany
by Katharina Ameli and Stephanie Krämer
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2918; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192918 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 373
Abstract
The implementation of the 3Rs principles is an essential part of daily routines and structural processes in animal research. The work of Russell and Burch regarding the 3Rs has been implemented in the field over the course of decades, but since 2002, the [...] Read more.
The implementation of the 3Rs principles is an essential part of daily routines and structural processes in animal research. The work of Russell and Burch regarding the 3Rs has been implemented in the field over the course of decades, but since 2002, the concept of a Culture of Care has come more to the forefront. In the present project, 503 experts in Germany were exploratively surveyed about their individual perceptions of Culture of Care and its implementation within their institutions. Using a questionnaire with closed questions (five-point agreement scale) and open questions, the data offer insights into Culture of Care in Germany. The results allow for the initial conclusion that a Culture of Care has not been fully established yet. Further research is needed to address a holistic and critical interdisciplinary Culture of Care that focuses on the animals’ perspective in a transformative way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals: Second Edition)
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14 pages, 1281 KB  
Article
Housing in a Large Open Cage Did Not Affect the Phenotypic Traits of Obese Male Zucker fa/fa Rats When Compared to IVC-Housed Rats, but Improved the Rats’ Well-Being
by Oddrun Anita Gudbrandsen
Animals 2025, 15(18), 2687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182687 - 13 Sep 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
The housing of laboratory rats in cages with dimensions according to international standards for research animals can hardly be regarded as a stimulating environment, even when fulfilling the minimum requirements for environmental enrichment. Little is known about whether changes in the housing situations [...] Read more.
The housing of laboratory rats in cages with dimensions according to international standards for research animals can hardly be regarded as a stimulating environment, even when fulfilling the minimum requirements for environmental enrichment. Little is known about whether changes in the housing situations to improve living conditions will affect the phenotypic traits of well-known models for human diseases. The obese Zucker fa/fa rat develops hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and fatty liver, and is widely used for studies on metabolic complications of obesity in humans. Young male obese Zucker fa/fa rats were housed in pairs in standard individually ventilated cages (IVCs: floor area 1500 cm2 and maximum height 20 cm), or 4–6 rats were housed in a large open cage (LOC: floor area 7705 cm2 and height 75 cm). The LOC provided an environment with more physical, social, auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile stimuli compared to IVCs. The aims were to compare the development of obesity comorbidities and to assess the well-being of rats housed under different conditions. The rats housed in IVCs and the LOC had similar adiposity, blood pressure, hepatic triacylglycerol content, and similar serum concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and alanine transaminase. IVC-housed rats showed some signs of distress, such as less interest in nest-building and signs of apathy compared to LOC-housed rats. To conclude, LOC housing did not affect the typical phenotype of obese Zucker fa/fa rats but did improve the welfare of these rats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals: Second Edition)
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