ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1996, Volume 4

Animal Experiments and Animal Consuming Methods in Teaching on Austrian Universities

Harald Schöffl¹, Sigrid Schöffl¹, Helmut Appl¹ and Helmut A. Tritthart^1,2

¹zet - Zentrum für Ersatz- und Ergänzungsmethoden zu Tierversuchen, A-Linz, Graz; ²Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik der Universität, A-Graz

SUMMARY

In this study, 246 institutes of the faculties of human medicine, veterinary medicine and natural science located at Austrian universities were examined, whether their courses include animal testing. 100% of the questionnaires were returned.

Because of the fact, that throughout the world students have to fight for training without animal testing, our findings, that there are just 6 (2.4%) institutes, where such tests are compulsory, are quite stunning. Even 5 out of these departments do accept alternative training methods. 240 institutes (97.56%) do not think that experiments involving laboratory animals are essential for the subjects of their courses or they practice alternative methods.

These results seem to add new aspects into the discussion on the importance of procedures using animal testing in the training of students.

Keywords: education, animal experiments, 3R