"Working like ants": Exploring veterinarians' views on laboratory animal care

Animal use in research was recently regulated in Brazil in line with international guidelines. In this scenario, veterinarians have a shared responsibility for animal care and welfare. In this study, we examine their role in Brazil 15 years on from the regulatory act’s introduction. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 veterinarians between October 2023 and February 2024. The participants included women (n=17) and men (n=7). They worked in public universities (n=14), public health research institutions (n=10), and public-private higher education institutions (n=3). Geographically, participants were from the Southeast (n=12), Northeast (n=7), Midwest (n=3), North (n=1), and South (n=1). Through a constructivist grounded theory approach, key themes were identified. Veterinarians expressed concerns about (i) inadequate infrastructure and difficulties with its repair, (ii) the low priority given to laboratory animals’ needs, and (iii) species and gender discrimination. Participants also shared successes in improving animal care and welfare. Participants often used the emic category “Working like ants” (“É um trabalho de formiguinha” in Portuguese), reflecting community engagement, that involves technical and political efforts (rather than merely ethical) towards safer practices of care. These findings suggest two key implications. Firstly, animal research in Brazil has been undergoing a welfarist reform. Secondly, greater efforts are necessary to address the need for investment in infrastructure and foster cultures of care in animal research facilities through the development of institutional governance policies which work to counter species and gender inequalities.