Lecture Final Flashcards
What is genetics?
The science of heredity
Who determined that traits are passed on to descendants unchanged?
Gregor Mendel
What does basic genetics involve?
Cell division and the law of independent assortment
What is mitosis?
Cell division that results in 2 cells that each have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
What is meiosis?
Division of cell material that results in cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell
What is the Principle of Independent Assortment?
Different pairs of alleles are passed to offspring independently of each other
What affects phenotypes and genotypes?
Chromosomes that contain genes and alleles
Does a single gene affect just one trait?
Yes but it can also affect more than one trait
Do several alleles affect several traits?
Usually only affect one trait
What is a phenotype?
Physical characteristics of an animal, including appearance and physiological composition
What is a genotype?
The genetic makeup of an individual for a particular trait or group of traits
What is a dominant trait?
An allele or gene variation, that masks the presence of a recessive allele in the phenotype
What is a recessive trait?
An allele that is masked in the phenotype by the presence of a dominant allele
What is homozygous genotype?
A genotype consisting of 2 identical alleles of a gene for a particular trait or characteristic
What is an example of a homozygous individual?
Homozygous dominant (AA) or homozygous recessive (aa)
What is a heterozygous genotype?
A genotype that consists of 2 different alleles for a gene for a particular trait or characteristic (Aa)
How will the phenotype be with a heterozygous genotype?
It will still be the same
What is a mutation?
An alteration of genetic material such that a new variation is produced
What is the only mechanism of mutation that can produce new alleles of a gene?
Mutation
What are some ways a mutation can be caused?
Chemical, biological, environmental and viral means
What is ovulation?
The discharge of an unfertilized egg from the ovary
What is spontaneous ovulation?
Ovulation which occurs independently whether or not the animal has mated
What is induced ovulation?
- Vulvovaginal stimulation is required for the hormones to be released that cause ovulation to take place
- Rabbits, cats, ferrets
What is a zygote?
A cell that is formed when a sperm and egg combine their chromosomes at conception
What is the period in a female mammal from the beginning of one heat period to the next?
The estrous cycle
What is monestrous?
- Animals that have only one breeding season per year
- Basenji, bears, dingos, foxes, wolves
What is polyestrous?
- An animal that has repeated estrous cycles throughout the year
- Dogs, cats, rabbits, mice
What is the gestation period?
The period of time between fertilization (aka creation of the zygote) and birth; or the length of pregnancy
What is parturition?
Giving birth at the end of the gestation period
What is post-partum estrus?
Estrus following parturition, some females can conceive within hours of parturition without having to cycle through their whole cycle again
What factors are determined by species in regards to reproduction?
- Location where and the matter in which the gametes are fertilized (mammals=uterus, birds=eggs)
- Development site of the zygote
- Gestation period
- Ovulation
What is a breeding scheme?
Several different methods that can be used to breed an animal
What does a breeding scheme typically depend on?
- The animal involved
- Genetic makeup required
- Requirements of research protocol
What is outbreeding, aka random breeding?
Animals that are unrelated that are bred; popular for rodent colonies
What are some advantages to outbreeding?
- Maximum genetic diversity
- It produces the most vigorous offspring
- Often results in larger litters
What is inbreeding?
Produces genetically similar animals by breeding 20 generations successively which results in a colony called a strain
What are some advantages to inbreeding?
- Produces animals that are homozygous at approximately 99%
- Eliminates hereditary differences for experimental purposes
- Also eliminates the rejection of tissue shared between animals
What is hybrid breeding?
Parents from too different inbred strain animals
What is hybrid breeding used for?
To maximize the characteristics of each of the parents, therefor making offspring genetically and phenotypically identical (similar to clones)
What type of breeding would be used to transfer a mutation to another strain?
Hybrid breeding
What is line breeding?
Mating of an offspring to a common ancestor
What is line breeding typically used for?
To isolate an accent a particular desirable trait
Which system do gerbils typically work best for?
Monogamous
What are some advantages of a monogamous breeding mating system?
- Easiest at establishing an inbred system
- Easiest for record keeping
- Maximizes the use of post partum estrus
What are some other names for a polygamous system?
Harem or colony system
Which system do mice adapt best to?
Polygamous
What are some advantages to a polygamous system?
- Largest number of offspring with the least number of breeder animals
- Most economical method
- Maximizes use of the post partum estrus
What are some disadvantages to a polygamous system?
- Difficulty keeping accurate records
- Overcrowding
What animals are used for a separately housed system?
Hamsters and rabbits
What are some advantages of a separately housed system?
- Reduces the number of animals needed- Promotes accurate records keeping
- Maintains life of non-compatible animals
What are some disadvantages of a separately housed system?
High labor costs
What is intensive breeding?
Leaving the females with the male which results in the maximum number of animals
What are some cons to intensive breeding?
- It exhausts the female’s metabolic reserves
- May contribute to breeding/parturition problems like dystocia
What is non-intensive breeding?
Allows the female to recover completely before her next pregnancy and parturition
What are some necessities for caging with expectant mothers?
The female must be able to build a nest, deliver and nurse the young, and allow for their growth
What are some things to consider for avian anesthesia?
- Stress response to capture and restraint- Limited pre-anesthetic evaluation (ie blood work)
- Limited knowledge base
- Drug idiosyncrasies
- Small to extreme body sizes
What are some anatomic differences with avian anesthesia?
- Birds do not have a epiglottis which makes intubation difficult
- No thyroid cartilage or vocal cords, they have a syrinx instead
What should you do with the ET tube cuff for a intubation of a bird?
Do not inflate the cuff because it may cause necrosis of the nerves, also consider that their trachea is inexpandable due to complete trachea rings
What part of the bird is involved in gas exchange, the lungs or the air sacs?
The lungs, the air sacs maintain unidirectional flow
What are some difficulties with avian anesthesia?
- They lack superficial veins and arteries which venipuncture and catheter placement difficult
- They have a high metabolic rate so will metabolize anesthesia quickly
What is the recommended time frame to allow for an avian patient to adjust to the hospital?
12-24 hours
Where can pre-anesthetic fluid therapy be administered for a bird?
Through an intraosteous catheter
Is fasting recommended for avian surgery?
Not usually due to a high metabolic rate, only if surgery is on the animal’s crop
Which anesthetic option is more recommended for avian anesthesia, injectable or inhalant?
Inhalant via mask or chamber, injectable is difficult to administer and most are irreversibly
How can a light patient under anesthesia be described?
Reflexes are present but there is a lack of voluntary movement
How can a medium patient under anesthesia be described?
Palpebral reflex is present, but pedal and corneal reflux is sluggish and respiration is slow regular and deep
How can a deep patient under anesthesia be described?
All reflexes are absent, respiration is slow, irregular and shallow and the patient may become apneic
What are some recommendations for monitoring with an avian patient?
Use doppler for heart rate and blood pressure, and for an ECG be mindful of alligator clamps because they may tare skin
What are some considerations for rabbit anesthesia?
- Limited venous access
- Small muscle mass
- High metabolic rate
- Difficult to intubate
Why is fasting not recommended for rabbits?
Due to their ileus
What injectable medications can be used for rabbit anesthesia?
- Xylazine with Ketamine
- Telazol
- Medetomidine with Ketamine
- Various opiods
Which vein is recommended for IV catheter in pet rabbits?
Auricular vein
Which vein is recommended for IV catheter is research rabbits?
Marginal ear vein
Can inhalent anesthesia be used in rabbits?
Yes, but keep in mind that they are sensitive to respiratory depression, collapsed lungs and are difficult to intubate
What are some difficulties you may face with ferrets and anesthesia?
- Thick skin makes cautheterization difficult
- Small airways, use 2-3 mm ET tubes
What medications are recommended for ferrets under anesthesia?
- Xylazine with Ketamine
- Medetomidine
- Butorphanol or buprenorphine
How do fish and amphibians received anesthesia?
Medications are put into water to be inhaled
What is the only anesthetic medication approved for use in fish food?
Tricaine methanesulfonate
What is a FADS?
Fish Anesthetic Delivery System which is a gas anesthetic system
How many stages of fish anesthesia are there?
0-6
How can the stages of fish anesthesia be described?
0 - normal 1 - light sedation 2 - deep sedation 3 - partial loss of equilibrium 4 - total loss of equilibrium 5 - loss of reflex activity 6 - medullary collapse (stage of asphyxia)
What is the opercular?
The piece of skin that covers the gills
What medication is recommended for fish analgesia?
Butorphanol prior to recovery to help animal return to swimming and eating sooner
What is the Optimum Temperature Range or OTC for reptiles?
85 F
What is poikiotherm animal?
Aka cold blooded; changes body temperature within environment
What makes the renal portal system of a reptile, amphibian, fish and bird different from other animals?
Blood moves from the caudal half of the body through the kidneys before returning to the heart
What is a contraindicated anesthetic method?
Hypothermia
What is the normal respiratory rate of a reptile?
10-20 breaths per minute
What are some physiological differences of reptiles?
They lack a diaphragm and their lungs are very thin walled, however they have a huge capacity for anaerobic metabolism which means they can hold their breath for extended periods of time
Is fasting recommended for reptile anesthesia?
Only if the condition of the reptile permits
What is the best overall group of drugs for controlled restraint of reptiles?
Inhalents, but the animal must be intubated to ensure the animal isn’t holding their breath
In what order does relaxation and recovery occur in reptiles?
- Relaxation progresses from cranial ro caudal
- Recovery occurs caudal to cranial
What are the 4 stages or anesthesia?
1 - Superficial sedation
2 - Moderate sedation
3 - Surgical plane
4 - Irreversible
Who was the father of the antiseptic technique?
Joseph Lister, he used carbolic acid to clean surgical site
Who was the first to use heat sterilization?
Ernst von Bergmann used boiling water to clean
Who invented the first design for an autoclave?
Robert Koch invented steam sterilization
Who was the first person to use surgical gloves for procedures?
William Stewart Halstead
What is asepsis?
Freedom from infection
What is antimicrobial?
A substance that is destructive to SOME microorganisms
What are some things that an antimicrobial will not kill?
Tuberculosis and spore forming bacteria
What is a cleaning agent?
A chemical that when used in conjunction with some form of agitation will aid the removal of soil
What is bacteriostat?
It inhibits the growth of bacteria but does not necessarily kill them
What is decontamination?
Total process of removing contaminants from surfaces in laboratory animal research areas
What is a sanitizer?
It reduces vegetative (actual growing) bacteria by 99.9% to 99.999%
What is a disinfectant?
It destroys 100% of the vegatative bacteria (of certain species) under specified test conditions, and should not be used on skin
What are some things that disinfectants do not include efficacy against?
- Fungi- Viruses
- Tuberculosis
- Bacterial spores
What is an antiseptic
A substance that destroys most microorganisms and can be used on the skin
What are some things to consider when choosing a disinfectant?
- Non-staining, non-toxic, non-irritating to people and animals
- Readily mixes with water and rinses off surfaces easily
- Rapid and broad spectrum kill of the organisms
How does chlorine and chlorine compound halogens work?
By forming hydrochloric acid and is very effective and relatively inexpensive
What are some cons of chlorine and chlorine compound halogens like bleach?
- It has a corrosive effect on certain metals, concrete and clothing
- Can pose problems for animals and personnel
Which antiseptic is one of the oldest and most effective?
Iodine and it can kill many kinds of microorganisms
What is an iodophor?
A combination of iodine and carrier molecules with prolonged antimicrobial material
What is iodophors most effective against?
Bacterial spores but the solution must remain moist and in contact with the sire for more than 15 minutes
What are iodophors mainly used for?
Surgical skin scrub
Does alcohol kill bacterial spores?
No, it is a bactericidal for vegetative cells and is active against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses
What are phenol and phenolic compounds used for?
They are good broad spectrum disinfectants that can kill both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses
What are some things to be cautious of with phenol and phenolic compounds?
- Extremely corrosive and require exceptional precautions in handling
- Hazardous to cats
- Can depigment skin and pose problems to health
What are some advantages of formaldehyde?
- Broad spectrum of activity
- Rapid action
- Sporicidal at high concentrations
What are some disadvantages of formaldehyde?
- Temperature and humidity and dependent
- Toxic- Carcinogenic
Which cleaner is most effective against gram +/- bacteria?
Quaternary ammonium compounds
What is sterilization?
Complete destruction of living organisms
What is physical sterilization?
- Filtration
- Radiation
- Thermal energy
What is chemical sterilization?
Ethylene oxide
What is autoclave sterilization?
Thermal sterilization saturated steam under pressure
What are the recommended time and temperature for autoclave sterilization?
-121 C, or 250 F for 13 minutes
What is the recommended time and temperature for flash sterilization?
131 C or 270 F for 3 minutes
What does the USDA refer to to adopt standards of sanitation?
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
What issues does the Animal Welfare Act address?
- Removal of excreta
- Minimizing spread of disease
- Maintaining odors at a low level
What are the primary concerns of the Animal Welfare Act?
To keep animals clean and to prevent cross contamination between animals in the facility
How often should primary enclosures of dogs and cats be cleaned?
Excreta and food waste must be removed daily and underneath primary enclosures should be cleaned as often as necessary
Do dogs and cats have to be removed for cleaning?
Yes, unless the enclose is large enough to ensure the animals would not be harmed, wetted, or distressed in the process
How often must primary enclosures of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, warm blooded animals, and non-human primates be sanitized?
At least once every 2 weeks using either live steam under pressure or a mechanical cage washer
How frequently does the primary enclosures of hamsters and guinea pigs need to be cleaned?
As often as necessary to prevent accumulation of excreta and debris
How often to rabbit enclosures have to be sanitized?
At least once over 30 days
How often should rabbit’s solid litter be removed and replaced?
At least once a week
How often must a non-human primate enclosure be cleaned?
Daily the excreta and food waste must be removed from both inside each primary enclosure and underneath them as often as possible
How often should debris in the pools of marine mammals be cleaned?
At least daily
How often should wall and bottom surfaces of primary enclosure pools of water for marine mammals be cleaned?
As often as necessary to maintain proper water quality
Which agent is generally not recommended for cleaning marine mammal enclosures?
Insecticides or other such chemical agents except when it is deemed essential by the attending veterinarian
What is the Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures?
- Store all sanitation materials and chemicals in a cool, centralized area
- Follow all instructions on the label of the product
- Never use an unlabeled container
- Never mix two chemicals together unless its authorized by the manufacturer
What is considered a pest?
Any living organism that threatens the well-being of humans or animals and compromises the integrity of a research project; insects and vertebrates
How far away from the way should feed, bedding and caging be kept to ensure pest control?
At least 6 inches
What are the most common diseases/conditions of mice?
- Sendai virus
- Mouse hepatitis virus
- Bite wounds
- Hair loss from friction or barbering
What causes the sendai virus of the mouse?
Parainfluenza type 1
What is the most common respiratory disease of the mouse?
Sendai virus
What are the clinical signs of sendai virus of the mouse?
- Hunched posture
- Ruffled fur
- Dyspnea
- Teeth chattering
What causes the mouse hepatitis virus?
Coronovirus
What is the most common viral disease of the mouse?
Hepatitis virus because it is highly contagious and it is both a enteric disease and a respiratory disease
How do you treat hepatitis virus of the mouse?
Cease breeding for 4 weeks to allow time for the mice to eliminate the virus
What bacteria may be found in infected mice bite wounds?
Staphylococcus aureus
What are the most common diseases of the rat?
- Mycoplasm pulmonis
- Sialodacryoadentitis virus
- Neoplasia
What are the most common conditions of the rat?
- Chromodacryorrhea
- Chronic progressive glommerulonephropathy
- Malocclusion
- Ringtail
What is the most common respiratory pathogen of the rat?
Mycoplasm pulmonis
How is mycoplasm pulmonis transmitted between rats?
- Direct contact
- Intrauterine
- Sexual transmission
- Aerosol
What are the clinical signs of mycoplasm pulmonis of the rat?
- Labored breathing
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Hunched posture
- Rough hair coat
- Otits interna
Will antibiotics help treat mycoplasm pulmonis of the rat?
Antibiotics will suppress infection, but not eliminate it
What is sialodacryoadentitis virus of the rat?
A gram positive bacteria infection that is highly contagious and causes inflammation of he salivary and lacrimal glands
What are the clinical signs of sialodacryoadentitis virus of the rat?
- Eye squinting
- Swelling of the ventral cervical region and jaw
- Protrusion of the eye
How is sialodacryoadentits virus of the rat treated?
It does not need to be treated as it will resolve itself on its own within 10-14 days; reinfected animals may be subclinical but still shed virus
What kind of neoplasias can rat get?
- Mammary tumors
- Keratoancanthomas
- Large granular lymphocytic leukemia
- Pituitary adenomas
- Zymbal’s gland tumors
What is chromodacryorrhea in the rat?
Excessive red tears due to the porphyrin in their system
What is the most common disease of gerbil?
Tyzzer’s disease
What is tyzzer’s disease caused by?
Clostridium piliforme
How is tyzzer’s disease transmitted?
Through fecal and oral transmission
At what age are gerbils most susceptible to tyzzer’s disease?
Weanlings, and the mortality rate is very high in gerbils 3-7 weeks of age
What are the contributing factors to tyzzer’s disease?
Poor sanitation and stress
What are the clinical signs of tyzzer’s disease?
- Ruff hair coat
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Death within 1-3 days
Can tyzzer’s disease be treated?
Treatment may help suppress infection, but not cure it because spores will survive in the environment for prolonged periods of time
What are the most common conditions of gerbils?
- Nasal dermatitis
- Degloving of the tail
- Epileptiform seizures
What is antibiotic associated entercolitis of the hamster?
GI infection caused by the animal received any of the PLACE or VGC drugs
What are the PLACE drugs that should not be administered to lab animals?
- Penicillian
- Lincomycin
- Amplicillin/Amoxicillin
- Clindamycin
- Erythromycin
What are the VGC drugs that should not be administered to a hamster?
- Vancomycin
- Cephalosporins
- Gentamicin
What are the clinical signs of antibiotic associated entercolitis?
- Ruffled hair
- Anorexia
- Profuse diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Death within 4-10 days
Why is antibiotic associated entercolitis so serious to hamsters?
Because it disrupts the normal flora of the GI tract including the lactobacillus and the bacteroides with Clostridium difficile toxins
How can antibiotic associate entercolits be treated in a hamster?
Lactobacillus supplement and supportive care
What is the scientific name for wet tail?
Proliferative ileitis
What diseases commonly affect the hamster?
- Antibiotic associated entercolitis
- Proliferative ileitis aka wet tail
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis aka LCM
What are some conditions that commonly affect the hamster?
- Renal amyloidosis in females
- Atrial thrombosis of the left atrium
What is wet tail caused by?
Desulfovibio sp
At what age are are hamsters most susceptible to wet tail?
3-8 weeks of age
How is wet tail transmitted?
Through fecal and oral transmission with stress being the biggest contributing factor
What are the clinical signs of wet tail?
- Unkempt hair coat
- Anorexia
- Moistened peritoneal area
- Fetid watery diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Distended bowl loops
- Rectal prolapse
- Intussusception
What is the natural reservoir of lymphocytic choriomeningitis?
The wild mouse and it is spread through infected saliva, feces or urine
Is lymphocytic choriomeningitis zoonotic?
Yes, LCM infected hamsters are the primary source of LCM in humans
What are the main diseases/conditions guinea pigs can get?
- Antibiotic toxicity
- Malocclusion aka Slobbers
- Scurvy
- Pregnancy complications
What drugs in addition to PLACE medications should a guinea pig never receive?
- Bacitracin
- Dihydrostreptomycin
Why is oral, parenteral or topical administration not recommended for guinea pigs?
Because it affects the normal flora of including lactobacillus and streptococcus and causes overgrowth of clostridium difficile and e.coli
Which teeth are most likely to malocclude in the guinea pig?
Premolars and rostral molars due to genetic disposition
What are the clinical signs of slobbers?
- Ptyalism
- Halitosis
- Chronic weight loss
- Tongue trauma
What is scurvy?
When a guinea pig can not convert L-gulonolactone to L-absorbic acid and therefore require a Vitamin C supplement
At what dose should a Vitamin C supplement be given to a guinea pig with scruvy?
15-20 mg/kg
What are the clinical signs of scurvy?
- Reluctance to move due to sore joints
- Unkempt appearance
- Swollen joints
- Diarrhea
What pregnancy complications are guinea pigs susceptible to?
- Dystocia
- Pregnancy toxemia aka ketosis
What diseases are rabbits prone to?
- Pasteurella multocida aka snuffles
- Enterotoxemia
- Mucoid enteropathy
- Venereal spirocetosis aka syphillis aka vent disease
- Ear mites
- Protazoa
- Coccidiosis
- Uterine adenocarcinoma
What conditions are rabbits prone to?
- Fracture or luxation of L7-S1
- Hair balls aka trichobezoars
- Ketosis
- Malocclusion
- Splay leg
- Ulcerative pododermatitis aka sore hock
What is the most common disease of the rabbit?
Pasteurella multocida aka snuffles and is harbored in the nasal passages and tympanic bullae and can eventually affect the reproductive tract
What can otitis interna in the rabbit lead to?
Torticollis aka wry neck
How can Pasteurella multocida in the rabbit be controlled?
- Quarantine incoming animals
- Eliminate environmental stressors
- Isolation/culling of affected individuals
- Medicated feed
What should be used to treat enterotoxemia in a rabbit?
Cholestryramine to absorb PLACE drug toxins
What age rabbits are effected most by mucoid enteropathy?
Young rabbits 7-10 weeks of age
What are the clinical signs of mucoid enteropathy?
- Abdominal distention
- Sloshing sounds in the intestines
- Hunching position
- Depression
- Polydipsia
- Anorexia
- Hypothermia
- Constipation followed by diarrhea
What is rabbit venereal spirocetosis caused by?
Treponema cuniculi
What causes protazoa in rabbits?
Encephalitiozoon cuniculi shed in urine and ingested and can be transmitted from mother to offspring
How can coccidiosis in rabbits be prevented?
- Strict cleaning and disinfection
- Use of wire hanging cages
- Medicated food and water
- Culling of infected animals
What is the most common neoplasm of rabbits?
Uterine adenocarcinoma in does 5 years and older if not spayed
What is the percentage of formaldehyde in formalin?
37-40% formaldehyde; 10:1 ratio
