Clark J D, Rager D R, Calpin J P
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-7381, USA.
Lab Anim Sci. 1997 Dec;47(6):580-5.
Assessment of animal well-being is a complex matter. It is difficult to establish a causal link between stimuli and internal state because of numerous variables and the time interval between cause and effect. Many studies document a correlation rather than a causal relationship among stimuli, responses, and subsequent health, disease, or mental state. Research objectives are often vague, the choice of assessment parameters is perplexing, and the results are difficult to interpret. In general, animal well-being cannot be assessed directly. There are no standardized methods or specific endpoints that provide an objective determination. Overt changes in physical and psychological functions occur only after the animal has experienced a prepathologic state. An animal's response to general arousal, life's events, and aversive stimuli depends on an integrated activation of various neural and endocrine factors. A variety of physiologic, biochemical, and behavioral characteristics change when an animal is exposed to aversive situations and stimuli, although many also change with the onset of positive general arousal, such as play, pleasant experiences, and sexual excitement. There is a need to evaluate numerous criteria (e.g., performance, clinical state, neurochemistry, endocrinology, immunology, morphology, behavior, and ethology) to compile a complete mental and biological profile of animals. The various systems, processes, and individual specific responses are interrelated and interact in a well-structured manner. Given the complexity of the topic and the disparate disciplines involved, developing a comprehensive understanding of animal well-being is not straightforward. Consequently, observers should be cautious. Foremost in any determination of animal well-being is assurance that criteria being used are relevant to well-being.
评估动物的福利状况是一件复杂的事情。由于存在众多变量以及因果之间的时间间隔，很难在刺激与内部状态之间建立因果联系。许多研究记录的是刺激、反应与后续健康、疾病或精神状态之间的相关性而非因果关系。研究目标往往模糊不清，评估参数的选择令人困惑，结果也难以解释。一般来说，动物的福利状况无法直接评估。不存在能够提供客观判定的标准化方法或特定终点。只有在动物经历了病理前状态之后，其生理和心理功能才会出现明显变化。动物对一般唤醒、生活事件和厌恶刺激的反应取决于多种神经和内分泌因素的综合激活。当动物暴露于厌恶情境和刺激时，多种生理、生化和行为特征会发生变化，不过许多特征在积极的一般唤醒状态（如玩耍、愉快经历和性兴奋）开始时也会改变。需要评估众多标准（例如性能、临床状态、神经化学、内分泌学、免疫学、形态学、行为和动物行为学），以编制动物完整的心理和生物学概况。各种系统、过程和个体的特定反应相互关联，并以一种结构化的方式相互作用。鉴于该主题的复杂性以及所涉及的不同学科，全面理解动物的福利状况并非易事。因此，观察者应谨慎行事。在任何对动物福利状况的判定中，首要的是确保所使用的标准与福利状况相关。
