Myomorphs and Histricomorphs

Question 1

what are myomorphs

Answer 1

includes: muridae (rat and mouse) and cricetidae (gerbil, hamsters)

Question 2

what are Hystricomorphs

Answer 2

cavidae (GPs), chinchillidae, octodontidae (degu)

Question 3

basic features of muridae breeding

Answer 3

polyoestrous
oestrous q4-5d
~20d gest (rats - 22d; mice 19)
altricial 
females = short ano-genital distance
5x pairs mamm glands

Question 4

what is a common respiratory syndrome of mice

Answer 4

murine resp mycoplasmosis (MRM)

• chronic pneumonia
• sup rhinintis
• OM
• pulm abscessation

Question 5

mammary neoplasia are common in mice, are they malig or benign

Answer 5

malignant
loally invasive
adenocarcinoma#
predisp factors are stress, retroviruses, hormone

Question 6

resp disease are v common in rodents, and mycoplasma pulmonis is ubiquitous. describe the disease transmission, signs..

Answer 6

aerosol, in utero and at birth - transmission
life long infection
sign s- bronchopneumonia, kg loss, lethargy, dyspnoea
flare up common

RATS get this with strep pneumonia and c. kutscheri

Question 7

unlike in mice, mammary tumours in rats are usually (80%) benign fibroadenoma. what sx action can reuce the risk

Answer 7

Ovari-ectomy. concurrently seen with pit gland tumours

Question 8

what are the clinical signs of rats with a pit gland hyperplasia or adenoma

Answer 8

anorexic -'pit cachexia'
kg loss, muscle atrophy
chromo-dacryoorhea 
head tilts - vestibular n dysfct
ataxia, circling, seizures
*may release XS ACTH => HAC*

Question 9

what is the presenting sign of a radiculo-neuropathy in rats

Answer 9

progressive worsening HL paresis

Question 10

hamsters and gerbils are cricetidae and they both can suffer from HAC, what is the most common signalment

Answer 10

older (male hamsters)

Syrian hamsters get benign adreno-cortical adenomas

Question 11

what diseases are part of the ‘breed gerbil disease complex’

Answer 11

• HAC
• b vessel mineralisation
• myocardial necrosis and fibrosis
• DM

Question 12

are the signs of hamster hypothyroidism, DM and cardiomyopathy equivalent to dogs and cats

Answer 12

YES

Question 13

what is the normal water intake for a hamster

Answer 13

<10ml/kg/d

Question 14

what neoplasia can hamsters get

Answer 14

melanoma + melanocytoma: males++, cutaneous

epitheliotrophic lymphoma (mycosis fungoides): cutaneous

hamster papovavirus: transmissible lymphoma, cutaneous. wart-like lesions - DOESNT resolve

Question 15

what are the signs of cystic ovarian disease in gerbils

Answer 15

>400do (in 50% females)
symmet alopecia
poor coat qual
abdo distension
dyspnoea
tx = OVH, drain

Question 16

what neurological conditions develops in poorly handled gerbils

Answer 16

EPILEPSY! prevent it if handle well in first 3wks of life

Question 17

what basic treatment do you give for resp diseases in rodents

Answer 17

• supportive (O2, nebulisation)
• mucolytics (N-acetylcysteine, bromhexine)
• bronchodil
• NSIADs
• Vit C
• reduce NH3

Question 18

what resp diseases are commonly seen in GPs

Answer 18

• bordatella bronchiseptica
• *rabbits are carriers**
• strep. pneumonia
• kebsiella

Question 19

what resp disease do mice get otherthan mycoplasma pulmonis

Answer 19

cilia-assoc reps bacillus (CAR) and sendai virus (2nd most common)

Question 20

what hystricomorph spp commonly gets urolithiasis and why

Answer 20

GPs

diet high in Ca and oxalates

Question 21

what is a common cause of d++ in chinchilla and GPs

Answer 21

dandelion! (laxative plant)

Question 22

what causes ‘wet tail’ in hamsters, 3-8wo

Answer 22

lawsonia intracellularis = prolif enteritis (same as in piggies)

Question 23

name other d+ causing pathogens to affect rodents

Answer 23

e coli
salmonella
clostridium piliforme (tyzzers)
clostridium spiriforme (causes Abx-assoc d+ in hamsters)
Yersinia pseudo-tb
coccidiosis - eimeria
trichomonas
giardia

Question 24

why do GPs get flystrike

Answer 24

fat
old
cant reach bum - caecotrophs gets stuck they also have stupid flap-thing

Question 25

what does trixacarus caviae causes

Answer 25

seizures in all rodents

Question 26

GPs like to get keto-acidosis, why

Answer 26

either preggo and obese - toxic form

fasting and travelling - metabolic form

Question 27

torticollis is another common disease of GPs, whats the aetiology

Answer 27

• strep infection and OI and OM

causes circling, head tilt, rolling, nystagmus..

Question 28

how much vit c do GPs need

Answer 28

10mg/kg/d
(30 if preggo or ill)
used for collagen synth

Question 29

what are the clinical sigs of hypovit c (scurvy)

Answer 29

11-14d of low vit c

• rough hair
• lethargy
• weakness
• ataxic
• anorexic
• painful joints (bleeding)
• gingival haemorrhage
• occult blood in poo
• hypersaliv

Question 30

what foods have lots of vit c

Answer 30

kale
parsley
beet greens
chicory
spinach
broccoli
oranges

Question 31

when providing critical care, par-enteral fluids, how much can you give

Answer 31

subq: rats (5-10ml); mice (1-2ml)

intra-peritoneal: rats (10-15ml); mice (1-3ml)

Question 32

what is PLACE, what does it stand for

Answer 32

P - enicillins
L - incosamides
A - minoglycosides
C - ephalosporins
E - rythromycin

ABx- assoc d++ - avoid giving these orally

Question 33

to undertake a cardiac puncture (under GA!) for euthanasia, what needle would you use

Answer 33

25-27G, 1ml syringe

pre-hep

Question 34

how much blood can safely be sampled from a rodentq

Answer 34

70ml/kg (if healthy - and this include extravasc haematoma!)

Question 35

what are the common route of IV meds in rodents - though beware - difficult. IO probs better for fluids..

Answer 35

• lat tail v (rat, mice)

- ear v & lat saphenous (chinchilla, GP)

Question 36

what is unusual about rat/mouse urine

Answer 36

proteinuric

Question 37

between IM and SC which is preferred

Answer 37

SC - same abs, less painful