Of Mice and Men : reflexiones sobre la ética de la experimentación animal

En el presente artículo se sostiene que la experimentación con animales es necesaria para generar una parte de los avances en los conocimientos médicos, pero sin ignorar el difícil e ineludible dilema moral que supone el imponer sufrimiento a unos seres a cambio de beneficios para otros que son, en esencia, muy similares a los primeros, tanto física como mentalmente. La similitud, cada vez más constatada por la ciencia, es rechazada por muchas personas para no tener mala conciencia por los numerosos usos y abusos que se hacen de los animales en la sociedad. Este rechazo encuentra reflejo en el ámbito legal y en el religioso, en los que se ha consolidado la equiparación de los animales a las cosas. Pero tal equiparación se revela cada vez menos plausible, y el trato hacia ellos dispensado cada vez menos justificable, con las crecientes evidencias sobre los sentimientos y la capacidad de raciocinio de los animales. La experimentación médica con animales es un caso especial, no obstante, por los importantes beneficios que reporta, que son reconocidos incluso por muchas personas preocupadas por la protección de los animales. Sin embargo, no pocos ciudadanos se manifiestan contrarios a estas prácticas al tiempo que desean beneficiarse de los avances médicos. Esta incoherente actitud puede deberse, por un lado, a que la sociedad no comprende la ciencia, y por otro al impacto de algunas campañas sensacionalistas en contra de la experimentación. Frente a todo esto, el autor plantea una serie de recomendaciones para el desarrollo de la actividad investigadora con animales basadas en la transparencia, la información, el reconocimiento del dilema ético y la participación en el debate que suscita, siempre con el objetivo de causar el menor sufrimiento posible.This essay argues that research on animals is necessary for the unhindered advancement of medical knowledge, but at the same time it recognises the moral dilemma of inflicting suffering on some beings for the benefit of others who are, in essence, very similar to them physically and mentally. The likeness, for which there is increasing scientific evidence, is rejected by many in order not to have bad conscience over the extensive use and abuse of animals in society. Such deeply rooted denial has been woven into most legal and religious traditions, which regard animals as things. This conception of animals is becoming increasingly implausible, and our poor treatment of them decreasingly justifiable, in the light of the amounting evidence regarding the existence and nature of their feelings and rationality. Medical research is a special case, however, because of the important benefits it provides, which many animal advocates are ready to admit. Nevertheless, a portion of society is against medical research on animals while still wanting to benefit from the medical advances. Such inconsistent attitudes may be due, on one hand, to the fact that people generally do not understand science, and on the other, to the impact of campaigns that selectively use very graphic examples of experiments. In this context the author proposes a set of recommendations for carrying out medical research on animals emphasising transparency, openness, recognition of the moral dilemma and participation in the debate it gives rise to, always keeping sight on the goal of minimising suffering

Micosis Fungoide en un perro

Se describe un caso de Micosis Fungoide (MF) en un perro mestizo de 10 años de edad. El animal presentaba una dermatosis multifocal prurítica y simétrica que afectaba a la cabeza, abdomen, ingles, axilas y membranas mucosas., Las principales lesiones eran eritemas, placas, pápulas, pústulas y ulceraciones. Inicialmente se sospechó un pénfigo vulgaris pero los estudios histopatológícos y el test de inmunofluorescencia directa (negativo) evidenciaron que se trataba de una MF.We describe a case of Mycosis Fungoides (MF) in a 10 years old mixed-breed dog. The animal showed a pruritic multifocal dermatosis which affected bead, abdomen, axillae, groins and mucous membranes. Main lesions inciuded erytherna, plaques; papuies, pus tules and ulceration. First a pemphigus vulgaris was suspeaed but histopathology and direct immunofluorescence testing (negative) showed that it was a M.F

Evaluation of ultrasonography for measurement of skin thickness in Shar-Peis

Objective-To determine whether high-frequency diagnostic ultrasonography is useful for assessment of skin thickness in Shar-Peis. Animals-10 healthy Shar-Peis and 10 healthy Beagles used as controls. Procedures-Ultrasonographic examination of the skin was performed on 4 cutaneous sites by use of a 13-MHz linear-array transducer, and the mean of 3 measurements was calculated. Ultrasonography results were compared with histologic findings of skin specimens stained with H&E, Alcian blue at a pH of 2.5, and Masson trichrome stains, with histometric measurements of skin thickness made by use of a microscope, and with measurements of skin thickness made by use of a plicometer. Ultrasonograpy results were also compared via age and sex of selected animals

Serological evidence of exposure to Rickettsia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia spp. in healthy or Leishmania infantum infected dogs from Barcelona

Fifty dogs from the area around Barcelona, Spain, were evaluated for serologic evidence of exposure to vector-borne pathogens. Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichiacanis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leishmania infantum, Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffi, and Rickettsia rickettsii antigens were used for testing purposes. Seroreactivity was determined in 3 different groups of dogs that were categorized based upon their L infantum infection status: uninfected healthy dogs (group 1), L infantum-infected healthy dogs (group 2), and L infantum-infected dogs with clinical manifestations consistent with leishmaniasis (group 3). Of the 50 dogs included in this study, 49 had serologic evidence of exposure to at least 1 organism for which testing was performed