Other Rodents

Question 1

Scientific name of the gerbil

Answer 1

Meriones unguiculatus

Question 2

Common uses of gerbils in research

Answer 2

Stroke, auditory research (large bullae), epilepsy, parasitism (lymphatic filariasis)

Question 3

Why are gerbils a good model for stroke research?

Answer 3

They have an incomplete circle of Willis (collateral cortical circulation) so can use unilateral ligation of carotid to induce ipsilateral cerebral ischemia

Question 4

Species most susceptible to Tyzzer’s disease

Answer 4

Gerbil

Question 5

What unique presentation of Tyzzer’s disease can you see in gerbils?

Answer 5

Encephalitis

Question 6

Nasal dermatitis in gerbils

Answer 6

-Increased porphyrin secretions + secondary Staphylococcus infection (S. aureus or xylosus)
-Tx: House on drier substrate and provide sand bath +/- abx (risk C. diff)

Question 7

Seizures in gerbils

Answer 7

-Common
-Auditory induced
-Dominant allele

Question 8

Most common neoplasms of gerbils

Answer 8

Granulosa cell tumors, adenoma/carcinoma/SCC of ventral gland, adrenal cortical adenoma/carcinoma

Question 9

Species that require dust baths

Answer 9

Chinchilla, degu, kangaroo rat, grasshopper mouse, gerbil

Question 10

Species that hibernate

Answer 10

Ground squirrels, black-tailed prairie dogs

Question 11

Ground squirrels

Answer 11

-Urocitellus, Ictodomys, Spermophilus
-Induced hibernator (5-10C, no light)
-Research uses = Hibernation studies, hepatocellular carcinoma (secondary to ground squirrel hepatitis virus), gallstone formation, rattlesnake antivenom

Question 12

Richardson’s ground squirrel

Answer 12

Urocitellus richardsonii

Question 13

13-lined ground squirrel

Answer 13

Ictodomys tridecemlineatus

Question 14

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

Answer 14

Spermophilus lateralis

Question 15

Rock/Beechey/California squirrel

Answer 15

Spermophilus beecheyi