22. Animal-Based Studies

Purpose

The Pakistan Journal of Gastroenterology (PJG) is committed to ensuring that all research involving animals is conducted ethically, responsibly, and in accordance with internationally accepted standards for animal welfare. Authors submitting manuscripts describing animal-based research must demonstrate that the study was scientifically justified, ethically approved, and conducted in a manner that minimizes pain, suffering, and distress to animals.

This policy is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines, and internationally recognized animal welfare regulations.

22.1 Ethical Approval

All studies involving live vertebrate animals or other regulated animal species must receive prior approval from an appropriate Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Animal Ethics Committee (AEC), or an equivalent institutional review body before the study begins.

Authors must provide the following information in the manuscript:

  • Name of the approving ethics committee.
  • Approval or protocol number.
  • Date of ethical approval (where applicable).

The Editorial Office may request a copy of the ethical approval letter during the review process.

22.2 Compliance with Ethical Standards

Authors must confirm that the study was conducted in accordance with internationally recognized animal welfare principles and relevant national regulations.

The manuscript should include a statement confirming compliance with applicable ethical guidelines governing the care and use of laboratory or research animals.

22.3 Animal Welfare

Researchers must make every reasonable effort to:

  • Minimize pain, suffering, and distress.
  • Use appropriate anesthesia and analgesia where necessary.
  • Employ humane endpoints.
  • Provide proper housing, nutrition, and veterinary care.
  • Ensure that animals are handled only by qualified personnel.

The Journal encourages adherence to the 3Rs Principle:

  • Replacement – Use alternatives to animals whenever possible.
  • Reduction – Use the minimum number of animals necessary to achieve valid scientific results.
  • Refinement – Modify procedures to minimize pain and improve animal welfare.

22.4 Reporting Requirements

Manuscripts describing animal studies should include sufficient methodological details to allow assessment of the ethical and scientific conduct of the research.

Authors are encouraged to follow the ARRIVE Guidelines when preparing manuscripts involving animal experiments.

Information should include:

  • Animal species and strain.
  • Sex and age.
  • Number of animals used.
  • Housing and husbandry conditions.
  • Experimental procedures.
  • Anesthesia, analgesia, and euthanasia methods where applicable.

22.5 Wildlife and Protected Species

Research involving wildlife, endangered species, or protected animals must comply with all applicable national and international regulations.

Where required, authors should provide details of permits or approvals obtained from relevant governmental or regulatory authorities.

22.6 Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office may request:

  • Ethical approval documentation.
  • Additional methodological details.
  • Clarification regarding animal welfare procedures.
  • Evidence of compliance with institutional or national regulations.

Failure to provide satisfactory documentation may result in delays, rejection, or further investigation.

22.7 Non-Compliance

The Journal may reject a manuscript or take post-publication action if:

  • Ethical approval was not obtained where required.
  • Animal welfare standards were not adequately maintained.
  • Ethical statements are inaccurate or misleading.
  • Evidence of animal abuse or unethical experimentation is identified.
  • Research fails to comply with internationally accepted ethical standards.

Where appropriate, the Journal may notify the authors' institution or relevant regulatory authorities.

22.8 Author Responsibility

The Corresponding Author is responsible for ensuring that:

  • Appropriate ethical approval was obtained before commencing the study.
  • All animal welfare regulations were followed.
  • The manuscript accurately reports ethical approval information.
  • Supporting documentation can be provided upon request.
  • All co-authors have reviewed and approved the ethical statements included in the manuscript.

22.9 Policy Compliance

By submitting a manuscript involving animal research, authors confirm that:

  • The research was conducted ethically and responsibly.
  • Appropriate ethical approvals were obtained.
  • Animal welfare standards were maintained throughout the study.
  • The information provided in the manuscript is accurate and complete.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other editorial actions in accordance with the Journal's publication ethics policies.

References

This policy has been developed in accordance with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – Core Practices.
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations.
  • ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines.
  • World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) – Animal Welfare Standards.
  • Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOAJ, COPE, OASPA, WAME).