Gerbils

Question 1

Diet

Answer 1

Wild gerbils: green vegetation, roots, bulb seeds, cereals, fruit, insects
Lab: commercially available pelleted rodent diets

Question 2

They develop _________ on diets containing more than _______ fat (metabolism)

Answer 2

High blood cholesterol
4%

Question 3

Require _______ to keep coats from becoming oily

Answer 3

Sand bath

Question 4

Most common gerbil

Answer 4

Merione unguiculatus (Mongolian gerbil)

Question 5

Where are research gerbils derived from?

Answer 5

All Mongolian gerbils in research are derived from 20 pairs trapped in eastern Mongolia in 1935

Question 6

Adrenal gland is ________ the size of the adrenal in rat

Answer 6

3 times

Question 7

Seizures

Answer 7

20-40% of gerbils develop reflex, stereotypic epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures from around 2 months of age

Question 8

Physical exam findings for ovarian disease

Answer 8

Palpating of enlarged cysts
Increased resp. effort
Alopecia-flanks
Hypotension and hypovolemia secondary to large ovarian cyst rupture

Question 9

Granulosa cell tumors

Answer 9

Most common of Mongolian gerbils
Metastases- abdomen (MC) rarely found in thorax

Question 10

Incidence of granulosa cell tumor

Answer 10

13% in 2yo gerbils
80% in 3yo gerbils
Animals <2 yo a higher incidence is seen in virgin females than in parous females

Question 11

Most common ABX

Answer 11

Baytril

Question 12

Most common NSAID

Answer 12

Meloxicam (Metacam)

Question 13

Most common OPIOD

Answer 13

Boprenophine (Buprenex)

Question 14

Ventral Scent Gland Neoplasia

Answer 14

Adrogen-dependent
Larger in males
Invade locally, metastasize to LN and lungs
Squamous cell carcinoma (80%)

Question 15

Facial Eczema “Sore nose”

Answer 15

Nasal dermatitis (moist or ulcerative)
Erythematous nares
Local alopecia
Blepharitis
Sand bedding might help/ improve

Question 16

Etiology of Sore Nose

Answer 16

Increased harderian gland secretion of porohyrins (skin irritant
S. Aureus and S. Xyosus cultured
Stress factors: >50% overcrowding

Question 17

Denstostomella translucida

Answer 17

Pinworms
Found in the small intestine (duodenum)

Question 18

Why shouldn’t you carry gerbils by their tails?

Answer 18

Tail slip!

Question 19

Brain Research

Answer 19

Cerebral infarction “stroke” (unilateral ligation of common carotid)
Spontaneous epileptiform seizures “idiopathic epilepsy”

Question 20

Auditory research

Answer 20

Deafened gerbils used in ontogenetic cochlear implants

Question 21

Disease research

Answer 21

Parasites: protozoa, nematodes (lymphatic filariasis), hydatid disease (tapeworms), flukes
Rift valley fever virus-induced encephalitis