ABSTRACT
Selection of an animal model is one of the most important steps in the design of an experiment. Animal models are also widely used to assess the efficacy and safety of new medicines or treatment strategies for human disease, before initiating clinical studies. The rationale for using animal models is based on the common phylogeny of living organisms and the conservation of physiological, metabolic, developmental, genetic and other characteristics over the course of evolution. Physiological models include: outbred animals, inbred strains, and other genetically defined models. Classically, animal models of human diseases are used to mimic a human pathology, with the intention to investigate the disease process or to develop a therapeutic strategy. Logically, animal models are also useful for investigations into animal diseases, either to elucidate aspects of animal pathology or to develop new treatments or vaccines to improve the health and well-being of both companion and production animals.
