Common Diseases of Rats

Question 1

What bacteria causes Murine respiratory mycoplasmosis?

Answer 1

Mycoplasma pulmonis

Question 2

What common bacterial disease causes dyspnea, Otitis media leading to a head tilt, and incoordination and circling?

Answer 2

Murine respiratory mycoplasmosis

Question 3

How is Murine Respiratory Mycoplasmosis treated?

Answer 3

Oxytetracycline.

Controls outbreaks but does not eliminate the organism

Question 4

What disease is found throughout the world in all species of laboratory animals?

Answer 4

Tyzzer’s Disease

Question 5

What Gram-negative, spore-forming flagellated bacteria causes Tyzzer’s Disease?

Answer 5

Bacillus piliformis

Question 6

What is required for a definitive diagnosis of Tyzzer’s Disease?

Answer 6

Histologic exam

Question 7

What is available to to detect Tyzzer antibodies in rats and mice?

Answer 7

ELISA

Question 8

Can rats have Tyzzer carrying organisms without having clinical signs?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What causes Tyzzer’s disease?

Answer 9

Poor sanitation

Overcrowding

Question 10

What are the clinical signs of Tyzzer’s Disease?

Answer 10

Diarrhea

Anorexia

Question 11

What is the treatment for Tyzzer’s Disease?

Answer 11

Tetracycline

Question 12

What Gram-negative bacteria causes Pasteurellosis?

Answer 12

Pasturella pneumotropica

Pasturella multocida

Question 13

What are the clinical signs Pasteurellosis?

Answer 13

Upper respiratory infection or pneumonia

May have abscesses in the skin, lymph nodes, uterus, & urinary system

Question 14

What is the treatment of Pasteurellosis?

Answer 14

Oxytetracycline or Chloramphenicol

Will not eliminate organism

Question 15

What bacterial infections are rare in a well-managed facility?

Answer 15

Streptococcosis pneumoniae

Question 16

Who are particularly susceptible to Streptococcosis?

Answer 16

Young rats

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of Streptococcosis?

Answer 17

Chromodacryorrhea
Inflamed nasopharynx
Pleuritis
Meningitis
Bronchopneumonia

Question 18

What is the treatment of Streptococcosis?

Answer 18

Procaine
Penicillin G
Oxytetracycline
Chloramphenicol
Gentamicin

Question 19

What causes rat bite fever or Haverhill fever in humans?

Answer 19

Streptobacillus moniliformis

Question 20

What is the most significant viral disease in rats and is highly contagious?

Answer 20

Sialodacryoadenitis

Question 21

What is the incubation period of Sialodacryoadenitis?

Answer 21

2 days

Question 22

How is Sialodacryoadenitis transmitted?

Answer 22

Respiratory aerosol

Direct contact with respiratory secretions

Question 23

How is Sialodacryoadenitis diagnoses?

Answer 23

Based on clinical signs or serologic testing

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of Sialodacryoadenitis?

Answer 24

Rhinitis 
Swollen salivary & harderian glands
Cervial edema
Photophobia
Chromodacryorrhea
Corneal lesions

Question 25

What is the treatment of Sialodacryoadenitis?

Answer 25

Symptomatic
Minimize ocular infections
Isolation 6-8 weeks

Question 26

What are 6 non-neoplastic diseases of rats?

Answer 26

Glomerulonephropathy
Polyarthritis nodosa
Myocardial degeneration
Radiculoneuropathy
Spinal cord degeneration 
Muscular atrophy in lumbar regions

Question 27

What louse species causes hair loss and pruritus?

Answer 27

Polyplax spinulosa

Question 28

What causes dermatitis and ear mange?

Answer 28

Mites

Question 29

What ectoparasite is uncommon in rats?

Answer 29

Fleas

Question 30

How are blood parasites transmitted?

Answer 30

Ectoparasites

Question 31

What are some examples of ectoparasites?

Answer 31

Trypanosoma lewisi
Trypanosoma cruzi
Hepatozoon muris 
Babesia muris
Haemobartonella muris

Question 32

What species of tapeworm has the potential for zoonotic infection?

Answer 32

Hymenolepis nana