Amin, Faiq

Arain, Fazal Manzoor

Khan, Muhammad Ulusyar

English

eCommons@AKU

eCommons@AKUDepartment of Biological & Biomedical Sciences Medical College, PakistanMarch 2017Challenges of conducting animal based researchand teaching in medical colleges of Karachi,PakistanMuhammad Ulusyar KhanAga Khan UniversityFaiq AminAga Khan University, faiq.amin@aku.eduFazal Manzoor ArainAga Khan University, fazal.arain@aku.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbsPart of the Biochemistry CommonsRecommended CitationKhan, M. U., Amin, F., Arain, F. M. (2017). Challenges of conducting animal based research and teaching in medical colleges ofKarachi, Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 67(3), 487.Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbs/431Madam, poor living conditions, such as chronic food andwater deprivation and uncontrolled temperature,humidity and light/dark cycle significantly alters theresults of animal based studies because they result inincreased stress response, altered circadian rhythm andmodulation of endocrine systems in animals.1,2 There isinternational consensus that animal welfare needs to beensured in order to make animal-based research andteaching acceptable and replicable. Pakistan Medical andDental Council (PMDC) does not have detailed guidelinesfor animal care facilities in the research labs of medicalcolleges except for infrastructural needs, quote: "Thereshall be adequate …………….space and equipment forthe humane care of animals when they are used inteaching or research".3 Whether the internationalstandard of animal welfare is maintained in Pakistan hasnot been investigated. We conducted a telephonic andin-person survey of PMDC recognizedmedical colleges ofKarachi, Pakistan, to identify the existence of animalhouses and the challenges they faced. Only five out offifteen recognized institutions had an animal housingfacility. The major challenges faced by some of thesefacilities were lack of control of environmental conditionslike temperature, humidity and lighting. Congenic line ofsome species were bought 10-30 years ago and sincethen were inter-bred without maintenance of records.However, no overcrowding was noted and generalhygiene was well maintained. A veterinarian was presentin all facilities. All facilities recognized that theirstandards should be improved. It was brought toattention that the medical colleges of Karachi cannotafford to establish and maintain international standardanimal research facilities. It is imperative that all animalsmaintained in these institutes should be kept inconditions that conform to international standards. Inthis regard, PMDC should have more clear and detailedguidelines for establishment and maintenance of animalcare facilities.Disclosure: No financial support or grant was used forthis case report.References1. Heiderstadt KM, McLaughlin RM, Wright DC, Walker SE, Gomez-Sanchez CE. The effect of chronic food and water restriction onopen-field behaviour and serum corticosterone levels in rats. LabAnim. 2000; 34: 20-8.2. Spoelstra K, Wikelski M, Daan S, Loudon AS, Hau M. Naturalselection against a circadian clock gene mutation in mice. ProcNatl Acad Sci U S A. 2016; 113: 686-91.3. Pakistan MoNRaSGo. The Gazette of Pakistan January 26th 2012.[Online] [Cited 2012 January 26]. Available from URL:www.pmdc.org.pk/Portals/0/GuidelinesAndCriteria/CRITERIA.pdf.Vol. 67, No. 3, March 2017487LETTER TO THE EDITORChallenges of conducting animal based research and teaching in medicalcolleges of Karachi, PakistanMuhammad Ulusyar Khan, Faiq Amin, Fazal Manzoor ArainDepartment of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University,Karachi.Correspondence: Fazal Manzoor Arain. Email: fazal.arain@aku.edu

Challenges of conducting animal based research and teaching in medical colleges of Karachi, Pakistan

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Challenges of conducting animal based research and teaching in medical colleges of Karachi, Pakistan

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