{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T05:37:01Z","timestamp":1782970621055,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":117,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782950400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Genetically altered (GA) rabbits are used in biomedical research due to their unique physiological and translational relevance. Despite their importance in multiple biomedical research specialties, species-specific guidance for their welfare assessment is limited. This article proposes a comprehensive framework for the initial and long-term welfare evaluation of GA rabbits, covering all life stages from birth to aging. Key indicators and biomarkers include neonatal viability, maternal care, post-weaning growth, sexual maturation, reproductive performance, and late-onset phenotypes, alongside clinical, behavioral, and physiological markers. Emphasis is placed on recording evidence to contextualize observed deviations from wild-type baselines. Accurate monitoring of phases-specific biological biomarkers enables further detection of relevant phenotypes, beyond initial welfare assessment. This framework offers practical guidance for researchers, veterinarians, animal welfare officers and competent authorities, promoting not only non-maleficence but also positive welfare approaches. Implementing a species- and model-specific frame facilitates responsible management of GA rabbits, ensuring ethical integrity, scientific rigor, and the development of positive animal welfare strategies throughout their lifespan.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1831790","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T04:24:31Z","timestamp":1782966271000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A rabbit is not a mouse: a framework for the initial welfare assessment and long-term monitoring of genetically altered laboratory rabbits"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Sara","family":"Fuochi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ethics, Legislation & Animal Welfare, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA)","place":["Apt, France"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Cozzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ethics, Legislation & Animal Welfare, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA)","place":["Apt, France"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Bergadano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Experimental Animal Center (EAC), University of Bern","place":["Bern, Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"Framework for the Genetically Altered Animals under Directive 2010\/63\/EU on the Protection of Animals Used for scientific Purposes","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"Commission Staff Working Document: Summary Report on Statistical Information on the use of Animals for scientific Purposes in the Member States of the European Union and Norway in 2023 (SWD(2026) 100 final)","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Commission staff Working Document: Summary Report on the Statistics on the Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in the Member States of the European Union and Norway in 2022","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2022","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1186\/s43141-023-00502-z","article-title":"A review of transgenic animal techniques and their applications","volume":"21","author":"Shakweer","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Genet Eng Biotechnol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1089\/cell.2021.0090","article-title":"Current Progress and prospects in rabbit cloning","volume":"24","author":"Cao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cell Reprogram"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.24272\/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.201","article-title":"Genome-edited rabbits: unleashing the potential of a promising experimental animal model across diverse diseases","volume":"45","author":"Han","year":"2024","journal-title":"Zool Res"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"642444","DOI":"10.3389\/fgene.2021.642444","article-title":"Gene editing in rabbits: unique opportunities for translational biomedical research","volume":"12","author":"Xu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Genet"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-0716-2990-1_18","article-title":"Generation of rabbit chimeras by eight-cell stage embryo injection","volume":"2631","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Methods Mol Biol (Clifton, NJ)"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1093\/eurheartj\/ehaf660","article-title":"AAV9-mediated KCNH2 suppression-replacement gene therapy in a transgenic rabbit model of type 1 short QT syndrome","volume":"47","author":"Nimani","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur Heart J"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"euaf168","DOI":"10.1093\/europace\/euaf168","article-title":"Beneficial action potential duration-shortening effects, but deleterious negative inotropism of IKs-activator docosahexaenoyl glycine in long QT syndrome type 2","volume":"27","author":"Louradour","year":"2025","journal-title":"Europace"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1550","DOI":"10.3390\/ph15121550","article-title":"A possible explanation for the low penetrance of pathogenic KCNE1 variants in long QT syndrome type 5","volume":"15","author":"D\u00e9ri","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pharmaceuticals"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"938","DOI":"10.1111\/bph.15484","article-title":"Transgenic rabbit models for cardiac disease research","volume":"179","author":"Hornyik","year":"2022","journal-title":"Br J Pharmacol"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1306","DOI":"10.1111\/jcmm.17188","article-title":"Fat-1 expression alleviates atherosclerosis in transgenic rabbits","volume":"26","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Cell Mol Med"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e106655","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0106655","article-title":"Induction of body weight loss through RNAi-knockdown of APOBEC1 gene expression in transgenic rabbits","volume":"9","author":"Jolivet","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3194","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26073194","article-title":"Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 enhances Osteoclastogenesis: insights from transgenic rabbit bone marrow models and in vitro studies","volume":"26","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0013525","DOI":"10.1128\/jvi.00135-25","article-title":"A tissue-targeted prime\/pull\/keep therapeutic herpes simplex virus vaccine protects against recurrent ocular herpes infection and disease in HLA-A*0201 transgenic rabbits","volume":"99","author":"Chentoufi","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Virol"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1518","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines13071518","article-title":"Genetic animal models of cardiovascular pathologies","volume":"13","author":"Blagonravov","year":"2025","journal-title":"Biomedicine"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1007\/s11248-021-00292-5","article-title":"Identification, purification, and pharmacological activity analysis of Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator alpha1 (DSPA\u03b11) expressed in transgenic rabbit mammary glands","volume":"31","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Transgenic Res"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1358\/dot.2022.58.3.3381593","article-title":"Eptacog beta, a novel recombinant factor VIIa, for the treatment of hemophilia","volume":"58","author":"Watson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Drugs Today (Barc)"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1097137","DOI":"10.3389\/fcell.2022.1097137","article-title":"Macrophage elastase derived from adventitial macrophages modulates aortic remodeling","volume":"10","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Cell Dev Biol"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-380920-9.00007-9","volume-title":"The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents","author":"Christensen","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"bay075","DOI":"10.1093\/database\/bay075","article-title":"RabGTD: a comprehensive database of rabbit genome and transcriptome","volume":"2018","author":"Zhou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Database"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1017\/S1357729800052942","article-title":"Feeding strategy for young rabbits around weaning: a review of digestive capacity and nutritional needs","volume":"75","author":"Gidenne","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1079\/9781789241273.0193","volume-title":"Nutrition of the Rabbit","author":"Gidenne","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2015.05.003","article-title":"The effect of four different feeding regimes on rabbit behaviour","volume":"169","author":"Prebble","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl Anim Behav Sci"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ajvr.23.10.0234","DOI":"10.2460\/ajvr.23.10.0234","article-title":"Effects of diet on the bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota across the gastrointestinal tract of healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)","volume":"85","author":"Rahic-Seggerman","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am J Vet Res"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e30","DOI":"10.1017\/awf.2025.23","article-title":"Animal welfare definitions, frameworks, and assessment tools: advancing the measurement and laying the foundation for improved animal welfare through a three-step approach","volume":"34","author":"van der Staay","year":"2025","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"ref29","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1177\/1535370217750088","article-title":"Biomarker definitions and their applications","volume":"243","author":"Califf","year":"2018","journal-title":"Exp Biol Med (Maywood)"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) Resource","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1024","DOI":"10.1111\/eth.12149","article-title":"Absentee mothering - not so absent? Responses of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) mothers to pup distress calls","volume":"119","author":"R\u00f6del","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ethology"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yhbeh.2015.05.011","article-title":"Mothers and offspring: the rabbit as a model system in the study of mammalian maternal behavior and sibling interactions","volume":"77","author":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Mariscal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Horm Behav"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvex.2023.11.003","article-title":"Rabbit pediatrics","volume":"27","author":"Ozawa","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e05944","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2020.5944","article-title":"Health and welfare of rabbits farmed in different production systems","volume":"18","author":"Saxmose Nielsen","year":"2020","journal-title":"EFSA J"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1439-0310.2000.00554.x","article-title":"Competition for milk in the domestic rabbit: survivors benefit from littermate deaths","volume":"106","author":"Drummond","year":"2000","journal-title":"Ethology"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-6226(98)00166-3","article-title":"Phenotypic and genetic parameters of birth weight and weaning weight of rabbits born from unilaterally ovariectomized and intact does","volume":"57","author":"Argente","year":"1999","journal-title":"Livest Prod Sci"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2023.18268","article-title":"Prenatal factors affecting the probability of survival between birth and weaning in rabbits","volume":"31","author":"Belabbas","year":"2023","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.4067\/S0301-732X2008000300009","article-title":"Neonatal cannibalism in cage-bred wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)","volume":"40","author":"Gonzalez-Redondo","year":"2008","journal-title":"Arch Med Vet"},{"key":"ref40","volume-title":"The effect of Nest Access on the Behaviour of Rabbit Does and on the Survival of their Pups","author":"Baumann","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref41","first-page":"183","volume-title":"World Rabbit Science Association Proceedings 10 th World Rabbit Congress \u2013 September 3\u20136, 2012\u2013 Sharm El- Sheikh \u2013Egypt","author":"Lenoir","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103841","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2019.103841","article-title":"The birth weight of rabbits: influencing factors and effect on behavioural, productive and reproductive traits: a review","volume":"230","author":"Szendr\u0151","year":"2019","journal-title":"Livest Sci"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1644","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15111644","article-title":"A new method of litter equalization in rabbit","volume":"15","author":"Atk\u00e1ri","year":"2025","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref44","first-page":"351","author":"Zerrouki","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref45","first-page":"224","article-title":"Effets de la taille de port\u00e9e \u00e0 la naissance et du nombre de lapereaux allait\u00e9s sur les aptitudes laiti\u00e8res des lapines de deux g\u00e9notypes et sur la croissance des lapereaux avant sevrage","volume":"27","author":"Chibah-Ait Bouziad","year":"2015","journal-title":"Livest Res Rural Dev"},{"key":"ref46","first-page":"369","article-title":"Effects of breeding configuration on maternal and weanling behavior in laboratory mice","volume":"56","author":"Braden","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S4C1.4","DOI":"10.1177\/00236772251334337","article-title":"Enhancing breeding does welfare in research facilities through innovative housing","volume":"59","author":"Kousi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Lab Anim"},{"key":"ref48","volume-title":"Pet Doors. UK Registered Company No. 06399085","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1026","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731107000389","article-title":"The reactivity of neonatal rabbits to the mammary pheromone as a probe for viability","volume":"1","author":"Coureaud","year":"2007","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref50","first-page":"53","volume-title":"M\u00e9thodes de mesure de la production laiti\u00e8re chez la lapine. 14\u00e8mes Journ\u00e9es de la Recherche Cunicole, 22\u201323 novembre 2011, Le Mans","author":"Lebas","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref51","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref52","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref53","volume-title":"Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11010014","article-title":"Genetic and phenotypic parameters of rabbit individual body weight in the preweaning period","volume":"11","author":"Belabbas","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2000.427","article-title":"Mortality in young rabbits: a review","volume":"8","author":"Rashwan","year":"2000","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-409527-4.00010-9","volume-title":"Laboratory Animal Medicine","author":"Nowland","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-380920-9.00009-2","volume-title":"The Laboratory Rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, and other Rodents","author":"Quinn","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref58","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref59","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref60","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref61","year":"2026"},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2014.05.018","article-title":"Effect of late weaning and use of alternative cages on performance of does, suckling, and fattening rabbits under extensive reproductive management","volume":"167","author":"Alfonso-Carrillo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Livest Sci"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.4103\/ijpvm.IJPVM_530_18","article-title":"Mapping the age of laboratory rabbit strains to human","volume":"11","author":"Sengupta","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Prev Med"},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1002\/jor.1100040211","article-title":"A longitudinal study of the growth of the New Zealand white rabbit: cumulative and biweekly incremental growth rates for body length, body weight, femoral length, and tibial length","volume":"4","author":"Masoud","year":"1986","journal-title":"J Orthop Res"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"962","DOI":"10.30802\/AALAS-JAALAS-25-067","article-title":"Body length as an objective marker of time to wean in laboratory mice","volume":"64","author":"Wilson","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref66","volume-title":"The Laboratory Rabbit (A Volume in the Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series)","author":"Suckow","year":"1997"},{"key":"ref67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1177\/00236772221078725","article-title":"Puberty onset curve in CD (Sprague Dawley) and long Evans outbred male rats","volume":"56","author":"Fuochi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lab Anim"},{"key":"ref68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1017\/S0016672300026240","article-title":"Weight and age at puberty in female and male mice of strains selected for large and small body size","volume":"44","author":"Falconer","year":"1984","journal-title":"Genet Res"},{"key":"ref69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-380920-9.00008-0","volume-title":"The Laboratory Rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, and other Rodents","author":"Sohn","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref70","first-page":"35","article-title":"Physiology and clinical pathology of laboratory New Zealand white rabbits housed individually and in groups","volume":"47","author":"Fuentes","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci JAALAS"},{"key":"ref71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.5194\/aab-61-463-2018","article-title":"A new parameter describing fertility in rabbits at the farm level: the kit index","volume":"61","author":"Hoy","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch Anim Breed"},{"key":"ref72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1045","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2015.1045-1050","article-title":"Analysis of reproductive traits of broiler rabbits reared in sub-temperate climate of Kodai Hills, Tamil Nadu, India","volume":"8","author":"Rajapandi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vet World"},{"key":"ref73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.1007\/s10815-016-0754-9","article-title":"Reduced sperm DNA longevity is associated with an increased incidence of still born; evidence from a multi-ovulating sequential artificial insemination animal model","volume":"33","author":"Johnston","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Assist Reprod Genet"},{"key":"ref74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2005.521","article-title":"Recommendations and guidelines for applied reproduction trials with rabbit does","volume":"13","year":"2005","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2009.660","article-title":"Effect of breeding system and farm hygiene on performances of growing rabbits and lactating does over two reproductive cycles","volume":"17","author":"Garrido","year":"2009","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2010.10.003","article-title":"The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: a review","volume":"122","author":"Castellini","year":"2010","journal-title":"Anim Reprod Sci"},{"key":"ref77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2020.09.028","article-title":"Roles of host genetics and sperm microbiota in reproductive success in healthy rabbit","volume":"158","author":"Marco-Jim\u00e9nez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2015.11.012","article-title":"Effect of lighting on rabbits and its role in rabbit production: a review","volume":"183","author":"Szendr\u0151","year":"2016","journal-title":"Livest Sci"},{"key":"ref79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"skaf432","DOI":"10.1093\/jas\/skaf432","article-title":"Maternal microbiota in relation to mortality, culling, and offspring survival in rabbits","volume":"104","author":"Biada","year":"2026","journal-title":"J Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2013.1196","article-title":"Reproductive performance of different breeds of broiler rabbits under sub-temperate climatic conditions","volume":"21","author":"Kumar","year":"2013","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref81","first-page":"204","article-title":"Multiple extrauterine pregnancy with early and near full-term mummified fetuses in a New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)","volume":"53","author":"Tena-Betancourt","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci."},{"key":"ref82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"622","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci10100622","article-title":"Pregnancy complications and feto-maternal monitoring in rabbits","volume":"10","author":"Pinto-Pinho","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1177\/01926233241298567","article-title":"Historical control data of spontaneous lesions of laboratory New Zealand white and Dutch belted rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) used in toxicity studies","volume":"53","author":"Corbetta","year":"2025","journal-title":"Toxicol Pathol"},{"key":"ref84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1293\/tox.2023-0132","article-title":"Spontaneous histopathology in New Zealand white rabbits: ten years of control data","volume":"37","author":"Eggers Carroll","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Toxicol Pathol"},{"key":"ref85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvex.2009.09.002","article-title":"Care of the geriatric rabbit","volume":"13","author":"Lennox","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"724","DOI":"10.1177\/10406387241234326","article-title":"Orofacial masses in domestic rabbits: a retrospective review of 120 cases from 2 institutions, 2000-2023","volume":"36","author":"R\u00e4tsep","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vet Diagn Invest"},{"key":"ref87","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1177\/0300985816658102","article-title":"Spontaneous lung lesions in aging laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)","volume":"54","author":"Cooper","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet Pathol"},{"key":"ref88","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"890","DOI":"10.1177\/03009858211002190","article-title":"Not just uterine adenocarcinoma-neoplastic and non-neoplastic masses in domestic pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): a review","volume":"58","author":"Baum","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vet Pathol"},{"key":"ref89","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvex.2016.07.005","article-title":"Rabbit oncology: diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics","volume":"20","author":"van Zeeland","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref90","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-380920-9.00016-X","volume-title":"The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents","author":"Tinkey","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref91","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1177\/10406387241262021","article-title":"Diseases of domestic rabbits by purpose; a retrospective study of 2,583 cases received at 4 diagnostic laboratories in California, USA, 2013\u20132022","volume":"36","author":"Oliver-Guimera","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vet Diagn Invest"},{"key":"ref92","volume-title":"Pathology of the Laboratory Rabbit","author":"Bradley","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref93","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.14283\/jfa.2019.4","article-title":"Defining frailty in research abstracts: a systematic review and recommendations for standardization","volume":"8","author":"Yaksic","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Frailty Aging"},{"key":"ref94","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"752","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(12)62167-9","article-title":"Frailty in elderly people","volume":"381","author":"Clegg","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref95","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"M146","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/56.3.m146","article-title":"Frailty in older adults evidence for a phenotype","volume":"56","author":"Fried","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci"},{"key":"ref96","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"599","DOI":"10.1002\/2211-5463.13955","article-title":"Evaluating frailty scores across experimental groups in rodent models: bridging physical and cognitive domains","volume":"15","author":"Mladenovic","year":"2025","journal-title":"FEBS Open Bio"},{"key":"ref97","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"897","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/glw339","article-title":"Development of a rat clinical frailty index","volume":"72","author":"Yorke","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci"},{"key":"ref98","first-page":"551","volume-title":"Conn\u2019s Handbook of Models for Human Aging (Second Edition)","author":"Kane","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref99","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-024-04296-1","article-title":"Exploring frailty in apparently healthy senior dogs: a cross-sectional study","volume":"20","author":"Blanchard","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref100","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1357","DOI":"10.2460\/ajvr.77.12.1357","article-title":"Assessment of frailty in aged dogs","volume":"77","author":"Hua","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am J Vet Res"},{"key":"ref101","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1002\/agm2.12058","article-title":"The biology of frailty in humans and animals: understanding frailty and promoting translation","volume":"2","author":"Bisset","year":"2019","journal-title":"Aging Medicine"},{"key":"ref102","author":"McMenamin","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref103","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44608","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-28382-y","article-title":"Comparison of the frailty phenotype and frailty index for identifying vulnerable companion dogs","volume":"15","author":"Hoummady","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref104","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1177\/0023677217718863","article-title":"Guidelines on severity assessment and classification of genetically altered mouse and rat lines","volume":"51","author":"Zintzsch","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lab Anim"},{"key":"ref105","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvex.2022.07.007","article-title":"Pain recognition in rabbits","volume":"26","author":"Miller","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref106","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0252417","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0252417","article-title":"Development of the Bristol rabbit pain scale (BRPS): a multidimensional composite pain scale specific to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)","volume":"16","author":"Benato","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref107","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"857","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10050857","article-title":"Navigating uncertainties: how to assess welfare and harm in genetically altered animals responsibly-a practical guideline","volume":"10","author":"Zintzsch","year":"2020","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref108","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"754","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9100754","article-title":"The 3Rs and humane experimental technique: implementing change","volume":"9","author":"Hubrecht","year":"2019","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref109","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1177\/01622439221138341","article-title":"The cold futures of mouse genetics: modes of strain cryopreservation since the 1970s","volume":"48","author":"Myelnikov","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci Technol Hum Values"},{"key":"ref110","volume-title":"Sharing and Archiving of Genetically Altered Mice: Opportunities for Reduction and Refinement","author":"Hurst","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref111","volume-title":"Current Frontiers in Cryopreservation","author":"Joly","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref112","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11010009","article-title":"Cryopreserving rabbit semen: impact of varying sperm concentrations on quality and the standardization of protocol","volume":"11","author":"Di Iorio","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref113","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.4995\/wrs.2023.18412","article-title":"In vivo rabbit embryo production and cryopreservation review. Application to ex situ conservation and rederivation","volume":"31","author":"Vicente","year":"2023","journal-title":"World Rabbit Sci"},{"key":"ref114","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1093\/af\/vfz055","article-title":"Ethical perspectives on modifying animals: beyond welfare arguments","volume":"10","author":"Bovenkerk","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anim Front"},{"key":"ref115","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.58590\/leoh.2025.002","article-title":"An ethic-of-care critique of induced genetic mutation in animals","author":"Donovan","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Anim. Law Eth. One Health."},{"key":"ref116","first-page":"224","article-title":"Consideration and checkboxes: incorporating ethics and science into the 3Rs","volume":"54","author":"Landi","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref117","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.3390\/ani6030021","article-title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: moving beyond the \"five freedoms\" towards \"a life worth living\"","volume":"6","author":"Mellor","year":"2016","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1831790\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T04:24:35Z","timestamp":1782966275000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1831790\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"references-count":117,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2026.1831790"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1831790","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]]},"article-number":"1831790"}}