Animals used in zoonotic disease research face welfare challenges from infection models, quarantine conditions, and biosafety requirements that limit enrichment options.
Animals in zoonotic disease research face dual welfare challenges from the infection models themselves and from the containment conditions required for biosafety. High-containment facilities often cannot provide enrichment, social housing, or normal veterinary access available in conventional research. Welfare refinement in these settings requires creative approaches within biosafety constraints. Replacement with cell culture and organoid models reduces animal use where validated.