MICE 04 - INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS

Question 1

alopecia

Answer 1

the partial or complete loss of hair from normally haired surfaces of the body —- categorized as either barbering or overgrooming in mice

Question 2

barbering

Answer 2

the loss of hair in patterns, typically involving the torso, face, and/or whiskers caused by grooming from cage mates
** involves 2 mice

Question 3

overgrooming

Answer 3

is the self-puckering of hairs – most often noted on the ventrum
** involves one mouse

Question 4

barbering and overgrooming etiology

Answer 4

• female biased, begins during puberty
• impacted by genetic background, with a higher occurrence in strains such as C57BL/6, A2G strains and Hoxb8 mutants
• long been interpreted to be a manifestation of social dominance, with the dominant animals plucking of submissive animals
• other causes: compulsive disorders
  ^^ similar to human compulsive hair plucking, including elevation of serotonin levels
• inciting irritants, such as small fight wounds may result in mice overgrooming area
• fur mutes can also be the cause of alopecia; although its presentation is typically associated with pururtis

Question 5

barbering and overgrooming management plan

Answer 5

• for a majority of barbering, no treatment necessary
• less common – barbering of face/muzzle may include plucking of whiskers –> causing irritation and pruritus, that may result in self-trauma and a secondary dermatitis
• barbering: maybe separating animals, clipping nails or incorporating additional environmental enrichment
• overgrooming: no treatment necessary

Question 6

dermatitis description

Answer 6

• inflammation with full-thickness breaks in the skin that may present erosions or multiple scabs
• typically the result of self-inflicted wounds due to scratching
• condition may present anywhere on the skin, although it is most commonly found on the anterior half of the mouse, including the face and dorsum

Question 7

dermatitis etiology

Answer 7

• inciting cause can be secondary to small wounds, early stage murine ulcerative dermatitis, and/or by parasitic infestations
• in many cases it can be idiopathic

Question 8

dermatitis management plan

Answer 8

• recommended that the nails are clipped and antibiotic treatment is administered

Question 9

facial dermatitis

Answer 9

• inflammation of the muzzle region

Question 10

facial dermatitis etiology

Answer 10

• typically associated with self-inflicting wounds due to self trauma (scratching)
• known to result from facial barbering in which whiskers have been plucked