Gerbils Flashcards
Diet
Wild gerbils: green vegetation, roots, bulb seeds, cereals, fruit, insects
Lab: commercially available pelleted rodent diets
They develop _________ on diets containing more than _______ fat (metabolism)
High blood cholesterol
4%
Require _______ to keep coats from becoming oily
Sand bath
Most common gerbil
Merione unguiculatus (Mongolian gerbil)
Where are research gerbils derived from?
All Mongolian gerbils in research are derived from 20 pairs trapped in eastern Mongolia in 1935
Adrenal gland is ________ the size of the adrenal in rat
3 times
Seizures
20-40% of gerbils develop reflex, stereotypic epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures from around 2 months of age
Physical exam findings for ovarian disease
Palpating of enlarged cysts
Increased resp. effort
Alopecia-flanks
Hypotension and hypovolemia secondary to large ovarian cyst rupture
Granulosa cell tumors
Most common of Mongolian gerbils
Metastases- abdomen (MC) rarely found in thorax
Incidence of granulosa cell tumor
13% in 2yo gerbils
80% in 3yo gerbils
Animals <2 yo a higher incidence is seen in virgin females than in parous females
Most common ABX
Baytril
Most common NSAID
Meloxicam (Metacam)
Most common OPIOD
Boprenophine (Buprenex)
Ventral Scent Gland Neoplasia
Adrogen-dependent
Larger in males
Invade locally, metastasize to LN and lungs
Squamous cell carcinoma (80%)
Facial Eczema “Sore nose”
Nasal dermatitis (moist or ulcerative)
Erythematous nares
Local alopecia
Blepharitis
Sand bedding might help/ improve
Etiology of Sore Nose
Increased harderian gland secretion of porohyrins (skin irritant
S. Aureus and S. Xyosus cultured
Stress factors: >50% overcrowding
Denstostomella translucida
Pinworms
Found in the small intestine (duodenum)
Why shouldn’t you carry gerbils by their tails?
Tail slip!
Brain Research
Cerebral infarction “stroke” (unilateral ligation of common carotid)
Spontaneous epileptiform seizures “idiopathic epilepsy”
Auditory research
Deafened gerbils used in ontogenetic cochlear implants
Disease research
Parasites: protozoa, nematodes (lymphatic filariasis), hydatid disease (tapeworms), flukes
Rift valley fever virus-induced encephalitis
