Ethics and the use of live animals in Latin American higher education: A systematic review

Abstract

Responding to growing global concerns regarding animal welfare and professional responsibility, this study addressed the critical need to synthesize scientific evidence on the ethics and use of live animals in pedagogical practices within Latin American higher education. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA methodology. An initial search on Google Scholar identified 271 documents, from which 23 articles were selected and thoroughly analyzed after applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis involved a matrix to extract and categorize key information across various dimensions. Examined elements included ethical guidelines, animal research, wild animals, legislation, teaching methods, historical context, animal experimentation, institutional policies, public perception, and alternatives to live animal use. Key findings reveal that Brazil and Colombia significantly lead in publications on this topic in South America, followed by Mexico and Argentina. Notably, the year 2024 showed the highest bibliographic output. Regarding recurrent themes, ethical guidelines and teaching methods were consistently the most frequently addressed. These results not only map the current landscape in Latin America but also underscore the imperative need to understand how educational practices in higher education are intrinsically linked to professional ethics, modern pedagogical demands, and undeniable respect for animal rights and welfare.