Kimwele Charles, Matheka Duncan, Ferdowsian Hope
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Pan Afr Med J. 2011;9:45. doi: 10.4314/pamj.v9i1.71224. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
Animal experimentation is common in Africa, a region that accords little priority on animal protection in comparison to economic and social development. The current study aimed at investigating the prevalence of animal experimentation in Kenya, and to review shortfalls in policy, legislation, implementation and enforcement that result in inadequate animal care in Kenya and other African nations.
Data was collected using questionnaires, administered at 39 highly ranked academic and research institutions aiming to identify those that used animals, their sources of animals, and application of the three Rs. Perceived challenges to the use of non-animal alternatives and common methods of euthanasia were also queried. Data was analyzed using Epidata, SPSS 16.0 and Microsoft Excel.
Thirty-eight (97.4%) of thirty-nine institutions reported using animals for education and/or research. Thirty (76.9%) institutions reported using analgesics or anesthetics on a regular basis. Thirteen (33.3%) institutions regularly used statistical methods to minimize the use of animals. Overall, sixteen (41.0%) institutions explored the use of alternatives to animals such as cell cultures and computer simulation techniques, with one (2.6%) academic institution having completely replaced animals with computer modeling, manikins and visual illustrations. The commonest form of euthanasia employed was chloroform administration, reportedly in fourteen (29.8%) of 47 total methods (some institutions used more than one method). Twenty-eight (71.8%) institutions had no designated ethics committee to review or monitor protocols using animals.
Animals are commonly used in academic and research institutions in Kenya. The relative lack of ethical guidance and oversight regarding the use of animals in research and education presents significant concerns.
动物实验在非洲很常见，与经济和社会发展相比，该地区对动物保护的重视程度较低。本研究旨在调查肯尼亚动物实验的普遍性，并审查政策、立法、实施和执法方面的不足，这些不足导致肯尼亚和其他非洲国家的动物护理不充分。
通过问卷调查收集数据，问卷发放给39所排名靠前的学术和研究机构，旨在确定那些使用动物的机构、动物来源以及“3R”原则的应用情况。还询问了使用非动物替代方法的感知挑战和常见的安乐死方法。使用Epidata、SPSS 16.0和Microsoft Excel对数据进行分析。
39所机构中有38所（97.4%）报告在教育和/或研究中使用动物。30所（76.9%）机构报告定期使用镇痛药或麻醉剂。13所（33.3%）机构经常使用统计方法以尽量减少动物的使用。总体而言，16所（41.0%）机构探索使用细胞培养和计算机模拟技术等动物替代方法，其中一所（2.6%）学术机构已完全用计算机建模、人体模型和视觉插图取代了动物。最常用的安乐死形式是使用氯仿，据报道在总共47种方法中有14种（29.8%）使用了氯仿（一些机构使用了不止一种方法）。28所（71.8%）机构没有指定的伦理委员会来审查或监督使用动物的方案。
在肯尼亚的学术和研究机构中，动物被普遍使用。在研究和教育中使用动物方面，相对缺乏伦理指导和监督令人深感担忧。
