Rat Diseases

Question 1

What is the causative agent of pseudotuberculosis in the rat and causes abscesses in the lungs, liver,kidney, and skin

Answer 1

Corynebacterium kuscheri

Question 2

Describe the appearance of C. kuscheri on gram stain

Answer 2

G+ rod in “Chinese letter” formation

Question 3

Describe the gram stain appearance of Clostridium piliforme, what disease does this bacterium cause?

Answer 3

G- spore forming bacillus that causes Tyzzer’s dz

Question 4

Clinical signs of Pasteurella pneumotropica in the rat?

Answer 4

Often asymptomatic may cause conjunctivitis, metritis, mastitis

Question 5

What is the causative agent of rat bite fever?

Answer 5

Streptobacillus moniliformis

Question 6

Name 3 Helicobacter species that can be found in the rat

Answer 6

H. muridarum, H. trogontum, H. bilis

Question 7

This bacterium can be found near respiratory cilia in rats and coinfection with Mycoplasma result in suppurative bronchopneumonia

Answer 7

Cilia-associated respiratory bacillus

Question 8

Name the causative agent of murine respiratory mycoplasmosis

Answer 8

Mycoplasma pulmonis

Question 9

Name the causative agent of hemobartonellosis in rats

Answer 9

Haemobartonella muris

Question 10

This common G- commensal is noted for its ability to form biofilms

Answer 10

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 11

If S. moniliformis is detected in a laboratory rat colony it is indicates exposure to …

Answer 11

Wild rats

Question 12

What parasite is associated with rodent hemobartonellosis?

Answer 12

Polyplax spinulosa (louse)

Question 13

Sendai virus is what type of virus? (DNA vs RNA, genus, species)

Answer 13

RNA virus, Paramyxovirus parainfluenza 1

Question 14

True or false: Sendai virus is more pathogenic in rats than mice

Answer 14

False, often self-limiting

Question 15

What viruses have a tropism for salivary glands?

Answer 15

Rat Corona Virus (RCV-P and RCV-SDA)

Question 16

Name the 2 major coronaviruses that effect rats

Answer 16

Parker’s rat coronavirus (RCV-P)
Sialodacryoadenitis virus (RCV-SDA)

Question 17

Name two viral rat diseases that can be controlled by allowing them to “burn out”

Answer 17

Rat Corona virus and Sendai virus

Question 18

What viral agents can be an infectious cause of corneal opacities and ulcers in juvenile rats

Answer 18

Rat corona virus

Question 19

Name 3 parvoviruses that affect rats

Answer 19

Kilham’s rat virus (RV), Toolan’s H1, and rat parvovirus (RPV)

Question 20

What type of nucleic acids do parvoviruses have (RNA? DNA? SS? DS?)

Answer 20

SS-DNA

Question 21

Name two paramyxoviruses that can affect rats

Answer 21

Sendai virus and Pneumonia virus of mice

Question 22

What family and genus does Hantavirus belong to?

Answer 22

Genus Hantavirus and family Bunyaviridae

Question 23

What laboratory rodent species can be a reservoir for the Hantavirus that causes pulmonary syndrome

Answer 23

Cotton rat (Sigmodon hispudus)

Question 24

Name the pathogen: This microsporidian pathogen causes clinical clinical signs in rabbits but is clinically silent and rare in rats

Answer 24

Encephalitozoan cuciculi

Question 25

What is the primary differential for E. cuniculi in a rat and how can you differentiate between the two?

Answer 25

E. cuniculi, 1x2 μm, stain well with Gram and poorly with HE | T. gondii, 2x4 μm, stain well with HE and poorly with Gram

Question 26

Name 2 GI flagellates in rats

Answer 26

Spironucleus muris | Giardia muris

Question 27

Name the commensal GI amoeba of rats, mice, and hamsters

Answer 27

Entamoeba muris

Question 28

Name 3 oxyurid nematodes that can affect rats, which of theses is the most common?

Answer 28

Syphacia muris (most common) Syphacia obvelata Aspicularis tetraptera

Question 29

How long is the lifecycle of Syphacia muris?

Answer 29

11-15 days

Question 30

Where are Syphacia eggs deposited?

Answer 30

Perianal area

Question 31

How long is the life cycle of Aspicularis tetraptera?

Answer 31

23-25 days

Question 32

Where are Aspicularis eggs deposited?

Answer 32

Passed in feces

Question 33

How can Syphacia eggs and Aspicularis eggs be differentiated on light microscopy?

Answer 33

Syphacia- flatted on one side | Aspicularis- bilaterally symmetrical "football"

Question 34

Name the nematode that can be found in the urinary bladder of rats

Answer 34

Tricosomoides crassicauda

Question 35

Name thegastric nematode that can cause gastric tumors in rats

Answer 35

Gongylonema neoplasticum

Question 36

Name two cestodes of lab rats

Answer 36

Hymenolepis dimenuta Rodentolepis nana (called Hymenolepis nana in the blue book) Taenia taeniaformis larva (cysts) may also be seen in rats

Question 37

What is the most likely ectoparasite to be encountered in the laboratory rat?

Answer 37

Radfordia ensifera

Question 38

Name the causative agent of pediculosis in the laboratory rat?

Answer 38

Polypax spinulosa

Question 39

What diagnostic should be performed when a Polypax spinulosa infestation is detected to assess for a common coinfection

Answer 39

Blood smears for Haemobartonella muris

Question 40

Name that rat pathogen: This fungus is present in immunocompetent rats and causes pneumonitis in immunocompromised rats

Answer 40

Pneumocystis carinii

Question 41

Common age-related kidney disease in the rat

Answer 41

Chronic progressive nephropathy

Question 42

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia is prevelent in which rat strain

Answer 42

Fischer 344 rats

Question 43

Classifiaction of most pituitary tumors in the rat

Answer 43

Chromophobe adenomas