Chinchillas

Question 1

Genus and species of Chinchillas?

Answer 1

Chinchilla lanigera (hystricomorph)

Hystricomorph in British English. 1. any rodent of the suborder Hystricomorpha, which includes porcupines, cavies, agoutis, and chinchillas.

Laniger = wooly

Question 2

Chinchillas normally have white (depigmented) teeth. T or F

Answer 2

False. They are normally yellow-orange. Lack of color associated with calcium deficient diet.

Question 3

List dental formula

Answer 3

Elodont 2(I1/1, C0/0, PM1/1, M3/3)

Question 4

Females have a closed vaginal membrane that is only open at what times?

Answer 4

Estrus (2-4 days) and parturition.

Question 5

During estrus, mucoid vaginal discharge and vulvar swelling develops. T or F

Answer 5

False. Only mucoid vaginal discharge. No swelling.

Question 6

Length of gestation

Answer 6

~111 days

Question 7

Weaning age

Answer 7

6-8 weeks

Question 8

What testing models are Chinchillas used for?

Answer 8

Middle ear sampling using a transbullar approach

Question 9

Most common bacteria causing conjunctivitis

Answer 9

P. aeruginosa, followed by Staph spp.

Question 10

What is asteroid hyalosis?

Answer 10

lipid calcium particles that form in the vitreous humor as part of a degenerative process in older chinchillas

Question 11

Most common urinary tract disorder

Answer 11

Urolithiasis. Cause unknown. Not caused by dietary calcium because of excess calcium excreted in feces of chinchillas

Question 12

Paraphimosis secondary to balenoposthitis is caused by what bacteria?

Answer 12

P aeruginosa.

Paraphimosis can also be caused by fur rings

Question 13

Phimosis (inability to protrude glans penis from prepuce) is commonly caused by what?

Answer 13

Preputial abscess

Question 14

What 3 characteristics of the chinchilla make it ideal for otologic research (specifically otitis media)?

Answer 14

Large tympanic bullae, large tympanic membrane, short and simple external ear canal

Question 15

Antibiotic commonly used to treat otitis media.

Answer 15

Azithromycin. Note: many biofilms in middle ear make treatment with antibiotics difficult. Always do culture and sensitivity. Usually P. aeruginosa

Question 16

Ambient temperature range for chinchillas?

Answer 16

65-80F with low humidity.

Question 17

Most common cause of ringworm

Answer 17

Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Scaly patches of alopecia behind ear and on feet.

Question 18

Can a UV light be used to diagnosis T. mentagrophytes?

Answer 18

No, it does not fluoresce.

Question 19

Name a maladaptive displacement disorder of Chinchillas in breeding facilities?

Answer 19

Fur chewing.
Reduce stress.
Fluoxetine had limited help.

Question 20

Common protocozol infection in research facilities (non-pathogenic)

Answer 20

Giardia duodenalis

Question 21

Cyniclomyces guttulatus is a normal intestinal yeast in Chinchillas. T or F

Answer 21

True

Question 22

What does it mean to have an anangiotic retina?

Answer 22

Neurosensory retina lacks blood vessels.
Chinchillas also can have a myelinated or nonmyelinated optic disc, they lack a tapetum, and have focal cupping of optic nerve.
They generally lack menase or dazzle response.

Question 23

How many lacrimal punctae does a chinchilla have?

Answer 23

2 (rabbits have 1)