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Animal deaths at the University of
Iowa: A pattern of abuse or side effect of research?
By Aimee Breaux,
Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 2, 2018
An animal advocacy group is calling for the University of Iowa to launch
an independent investigation into its research practices after digging up
what the group describes as multiple animals deaths because of negligence.
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, a nonprofit Ohio-based organization, brings
attention to animal testing at universities across the U.S. In March, the
group filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service about UI's treatment of ferrets. Now the
group alleges that the university's negligence extends beyond the treatment
of ferrets.
By the group’s count, at least 244 animals — including ferrets, mice, rats
and 200 fish — were killed because of negligence by UI researchers in 2016
and 2017.
The public has a window into these animal deaths through the documents
researchers are obligated to create. When lab staff intentionally or
unintentionally don’t comply with federal policies or regulations, they must
report the incidents to the agency providing the funding for their work.
Compiling 21 such reports sent in 2016 and 2017, SAEN argues that the
university shows a “multi-year pattern of abuse, neglect and incompetence."
University officials say the incidents were unfortunate mistakes that are
addressed immediately but come with the territory.
The animals that have died in UI labs
Included in the mandatory reporting was an incident in October of 2017 that
prompted SAEN to file the complaint with USDA. An animal care technician
found a dead female ferret, or a jill, alongside two ferret babies, or kits.
A remaining pregnant jill produced at least three dead kits before lab staff
found her to be in too poor of health and euthanized her.
According to the report, the jills gave birth five and 10 days earlier than
expected, possibly due to genetic testing on the animals.
In at least two accounts, a total of five mice died of starvation after lab
staff failed to check in on the animals. Other deaths are preceded by lab
staff failing to alert veterinarians of animals facing ill health. Two
hundred fish died after an animal care technician incorrectly adjusted pH
levels.
Four mice died after equipment malfunctioned overnight, causing their living
space to overheat.
Two rats died in January of 2017, though according to the report, scientists
are not sure why. Another six rats were euthanized in September 2016 after
the researcher incorrectly injected the animals during an experiment. Later
that month, another eight mice died before researchers figured out the
correct dose of an experimental drug to use on the animals.
Wrapped into the reports were accounts of about 30 animals that did not die
but were improperly handled. In late September 2017, lab staff cut off the
tails of two mice without providing an analgesic, or painkiller. Less than a
month later, a lab technician cut off the tails of 22 mice without providing
an analgesic.
UI's explanation of the reports
Each report included the university’s response to the mishap — the
subsequent training to prevent the same mistake in the future and, when
applicable, a promise to return the appropriate funds to the grant provider.
This is part of animal research, says Stephen Pradarelli, strategic
communications director for the Office of the Vice President for Research
and Economic Development.
“The University of Iowa takes the health and safety of animals in its care
seriously, for ethical reasons and because they are valuable resources in
the effort to develop new treatments for a range of health conditions and
diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, macular degeneration
and many others,” he said. “Unfortunately, adverse events sometimes occur
because of mechanical failures, human error or for other reasons.”
When mistakes happen, Pradarelli says, the University of Iowa’s
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee immediately investigates and
evaluates whether there needs to be staff retraining, equipment replacement
or protocol changes.
The university doesn't currently have plans for an independent audit.
Pradarelli said the university is an accredited member of the Association
for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, a
private nonprofit organization that reviewed the program in March.
But assurances by university officials that researchers take the humane care
of animals seriously seem insincere, says Michael Budkie, executive director
of SAEN.
“For if it were true, there would be no reports of non-compliance, and no
USDA Official Warning would have been issued against the University of
Iowa," Budkie wrote in a letter to University of Iowa president, Bruce
Harreld. "Allowing animals to die of starvation, hyperthermia, cervical
dislocation without anesthesia, etc. clearly violates these guidelines.”
The group turned some of it’s attention to the University of Iowa in
early 2016, after a goat escaped from the unviersity captivity, leading the
university and law enforcement on a 10-day chase.
The goat, which was part of orthopedic injuries experimentation, was
euthanized upon capture to the dismay of animal-rights groups keeping tabs
on the goat search. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
investigated the goat's treatment following a complaint by People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals and cited the university for mishandling the
animal.
Following the citation, Pradarelli said the university amended protocol,
retrained staff and implemented new security measures for animal transfers.
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