臨床研究と生命倫理ジャーナル

概要

Implementation of the Artificial Feeders in Hematophagous Arthropod Research Cooperates to the Vertebrate Animal Use Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (3Rs) Principle

André Luis Costa-da-Silva, Danilo Oliveira Carvalho, Bianca Burini Kojin and

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted to humans by hematophagous arthropods and these blood-sucking organisms are target to researches worldwide. The laboratory colonization of these species is an important factor in the development of innovative strategies to control these vectors. However, this maintenance requires blood to make these invertebrates able to complete their life cycle. Although live vertebrate animals are frequently used for this feeding procedure, artificial feeders are available as potential alternatives to replace the use of live animals in some situations, especially in vector colony maintenance. The aim of this commentary is to discuss the use of artificial feeding methods concerning the 3Rs principle application. The scientific community focused on vector-borne diseases studies needs to strongly consider these artificial feeding options as a bioethical alternative to maintain blood-feeding arthropods in laboratory.