Hamsters and Gerbils Flashcards
Genus and species of Golden Syrian Hamster
Mesocricetus auratus
Genus and species of Chinese hamsters
Cricetulus griseus
Genus and species of Mongolian gerbils
Meriones unguiculatus
Models of research that use gerbils
seizure and epilepsy research.
Seizures are genetic
Nutritional studies: susceptible to high-fat, high-cholesterol diets
Incisor teeth in hamsters and gerbils are hypsodont and elodont, what are the cheek teeth?
brachydont
Syrian hamsters produce an off-white, vaginal discharge during estrus (just after ovulation). T or F
True
Protein requirements of hamsters and gerbils
Hamsters (14-17%), Gerbils (22%)
“Wet-tail” in hamsters is commonly caused by what bacteria?
Lawsonia Intracellularis
Common treatment for “wet-tail”?
Tetracycline, enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfa
Diarrhea in adult hamsters is commonly caused by what bacteria?
Clostridium difficile.
Post antibiotic therapy.
Guarded prognosis
Tyzzers dz is caused by what bacteria?
Clostridium piliformes, in pet store animals
Tyzzers causes a high mortality in rats and mice. T or F
False, Hamsters and gerbils
Name a zoonotic intestinal parasite of hamsters.
Hymenolepis nana
What condition is seen in research hamsters exposed to social stress induced by overcrowding?
Amyloidosis
Primary composition of urinary crystals in hamsters
Struvite
What is the pH of normal hamster urine?
8
What type of hamster is prone to mammary adenocarcinoma?
Djungarian hamsters
What environmental conditions trigger cannibalism of the young?
cold ambient temperatures (<50F), lean diets, low body weights (especially during pregnancy)
What type of hamster is more prone to cardiac disease?
Syrian
What type of hamster is more prone to respiratory disease?
Djungarian
What condition occurs in aging research hamsters (up to 73%)?
Atrial thrombosis (left side) with secondary heart failure and consumptive coagulopathy. Occurs in younger age female (13.5 mos) than males (21.5 mos)
What influences the incidence of atrial thrombosis?
The amount of circulating androgen (endocrine). Castrating males increases incidence.
What influences the length of hair in a teddy bear Syrian hamster?
Testosterone
Djungarian hamsters are 5x more likely to develop neoplasias than Syrian hamsters. T or F
True
Common fur mite in hamsters
Acarus farris
Most common neoplasm of hamsters
Lymphoma (cutaneous is frequent and resembles human epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma)
Hamsters are sensitive to radiation. T or F.
False. Hamsters are most radioresistant of lab animals.
Most common cause of fatal infection in gerbils
Tyzzer’s dz caused by Bacillus piliformis (diarrhea)
Gerbil pinworm
Denstomella translucida
The lack of what enzyme causes reflex stereotypic epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures in gerbils (genetic)?
Cerebral glutamine synthetase. Starts ~2mos of age and most animals outgrow
What bacteria causes neurologic signs in gerbils?
Bacillus piliformis
Cystic ovaries occur in what type of laboratory gerbil?
Mongolian gerbil. Remove it.
What two zoonotic diseases are children at risk for when keeping hamsters or gerbils as pets?
lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and hantavirus
What type of retina does a hamster have?
Holangiotic- entire neurosensory receives blood supply that radiates out like spokes.
The use of what antibiotic in hamsters will cause reduced tear production for 14 days?
Trimethoprim sulfa
Hamsters (and mice) are not susceptible to what gram negative rod that afflicts rabbits and other rodents?
Bordetella bronchiseptica
