Malattie della pelle in topi da laboratorio

The thesis work investigates the aetiology, impact and preventive measures of skin diseases in mice used in laboratory settings, specifically focusing on animal welfare promotion. Laboratory mice are widely used in scientific research, due to their similarity in anatomy and physiology to humans. Additionally, other factors such as size, life cycle and easy maintenance make this species the one of the most studied and preferred in the biomedical and pharmacological research fields. Implementing a comprehensive approach, combining different analyses to identify pathogens and environmental factors which are contributing to the development of these conditions and incorporating evidence from scientific papers and reviews, the thesis explores any possible correlation between the mice strains most affected, housing and husbandry conditions, preventive measures and hygiene practices used in research laboratories, assessing the efficacy in reducing the appearance of these skin diseases. In conclusion, this thesis emphasizes on the importance of management strategies to ensure proper ethical conduct for the wellbeing of these animal models, to promote the 3 R’s strategies, finding a balance between scientific advancements and the welfare of these animals.