Laboratory Animal Management: Rodents
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Late Lactation in Small Mammals Is a Critically Sensitive Window of Vulnerability to Elevated Ambient Temperature
Late lactation in small mammals is a critically sensitive window of vulnerability to elevated ambient temperature Zhi-Jun Zhaoa,1, Catherine Hamblyb, Lu-Lu Shia, Zhong-Qiang Bia, Jing Caoa, and John R. Speakmanb,c,d,1 aSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; bInstitute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB39 2PN, Scotland, United Kingdom; cState Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100100, China; and dCAS Center of Excellence for Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming 650223, China Contributed by John R. Speakman, July 27, 2020 (sent for review May 6, 2020; reviewed by Kimberly Hammond and Craig R. White) Predicted increases in global average temperature are physiolog- between 2003 and 2006. It is predicted this will increase to 30 d/y ically trivial for most endotherms. However, heat waves will also by the end of this century (8). The present-day average duration increase in both frequency and severity, and these will be phys- of heat waves is from 8.3 to 12.7 d, but this is predicted to in- iologically more important. Lactating small mammals are hypoth- crease to 11.4 to 17.0 d in the future (6). Urban heat wave days esized to be limited by heat dissipation capacity, suggesting high per year are predicted to increase from 6 between 1981 and 2005 temperatures may adversely impact lactation performance. We to 92 in the future in the southeastern United States (9). measured reproductive performance of mice and striped hamsters These heat wave events are physiologically more significant (Cricetulus barabensis), including milk energy output (MEO), at and their increased frequency, severity, and duration are rapidly temperatures between 21 and 36 °C. -
Small Rodents
All Creatures Animal Hospital Volume 1, Issue 1 Newsletter Date Basic Care of Small Rodents HAMSTERS Hamsters (Mesocricetus aura- sters were first introduced to less common than the Syrian Inside this issue: tus) are short tailed rodents the United States in 1938. hamster. The smaller, dark with large cheek pouches. The Since their domestication, sev- brown Chinese hamster (dwarf Housing 2 Syrian hamster’s (golden ham- eral color and hair coat varie- hamster), the Armenian (grey) ster) wild habitat extends ties of the Syrian hamster have hamster, and the European Nutrition 2 through the Middle East and arisen through selective breed- hamster are more often used in Southeastern Europe. In 1930, ing. The three basic groups research and seldom kept as Handling 3 a litter of eight baby hamsters that now exist include the com- pets. Hamsters live 1.5-2.5 was taken to Israel and raised mon “golden” hamster, colored years. Hamsters have pig- Veterinary Care 3 as research animals. Virtually short-haired “fancy” hamster, mented, hairless glands over all domesticated hamsters sold and long-haired “teddy bear” the hips. These should not be Teeth and Tears 3 in the pet trade and research are hamster. On occasion, one mistaken for tumors. descendents of three of the may encounter other species of Breeding 4 survivors of that litter. Ham- hamsters, but these are much GERBILS The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones abdomen, and darker back coat. or fight, are easy to keep clean unguiculatus) is a small rodent Other color varieties that exist and care for, and are relatively native to the desert regions of include black, white, and cinna- easy to handle. -
Those Cheeky Hamsters by Robert J
ANIMAL HEALTH Those Cheeky Hamsters By Robert J. Russell and Jim A. Stunkard Marie T. Sebrechts Handling a hamster frequently makes these cheeky animals more gentle pets. Hamsters often are pugna- Two species of hamsters cious animals; however, are rarely seen as pets: 1) the many of them make gentle European hamster, Cricetus pets when handled frequently. cricetus, light brown with a The hamster commonly seen black belly and white areas on as a pet is the Syrian or the face; and 2) the Chinese golden hamster, Mesocricetus hamster, Cricetulus griseus, auratus. They are a light characterized by a black dor- golden brown color. sal strip and a light brown to gray and white coat color. Hamsters are nocturnal, their gestation period is ex- Robert J. Russell is Director, Lab- oratory Animal Sciences Program, tremely short (14 days), and Program Resources Inc., Freder- they have extensive cheek ick, Md. Jim A. Stunkard is pouches to carry food and Director of the Bowie Animal move their babies from one Hospital, Bowie, Md. location to another. The ham- Hamsters 509 Hamsters are escape artists, so get a secure, solid cage. Clean, fresh water should be available contin- uously. Hard- wood chips, ground corncobs and shredded paper all make good bedding materials. \4'i.4-.l^. t^Wj-r. ^-^^..-^v 510 Rabbits and Other Small Animals ANIMAL HEALTH ster uses pigmented flank a day. Pelleted rodent feeds, organs (sebaceous glands), available commercially from located high on the thigh, for major feed suppliers, gener- territorial marking. ally are readily available and acceptable. Mixed seeds can Escape Artists be used as a treat. -
Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rodent Models
Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rodent Models A discussion of how diets made from purified ingredients influence the phenotypes of the MS in commonly used rodent models. Angela M. Gajda, MS, Michael A. Pellizzon, Ph.D., Matthew R. Ricci, Ph.D. and Edward A. Ulman, Ph.D. quick look at a crowd of people shows was not stable and periods of starvation were that many of our fellow humans are car- common, it was advantageous to have genes that rying around too much excess weight. allowed for the efficient storage of excess calories The prevalence of obesity is at epidemic as fat, given the uncertainty of when the next Alevels in the developed world, and obesity may be meal would come. In our present society, the the root cause of or precursor to other diseases problem is that we still have those ‘thrifty genes’ such as insulin resistance, abnormal blood lipid but also have a variety of foods that are high in levels (hypertriglyceridemia and reduced high saturated fat, simple sugars, and salt. density lipoprotein cholesterol), and hyperten- Unfortunately for us, many of these foods are sion (high blood pressure). The term ‘metabolic inexpensive and highly accessible (not to men- syndrome’ (MS) is used to describe the simulta- tion very tasty), and we find them easy to con- neous occurrence of these diseases and people sume in excess, leading to disease and most like- with the MS are at increased risk for type 2 dia- ly early death. On the flip side of caloric intake betes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and non- coin is the very interesting finding that long-term alcoholic fatty liver disease. -
Mouse Models of Human Disease an Evolutionary Perspective Robert L
170 commentary Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health [2016] pp. 170–176 doi:10.1093/emph/eow014 Mouse models of human disease An evolutionary perspective Robert L. Perlman* Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 5058, Chicago, IL 60637, USA *E-mail: [email protected] Received 31 December 2015; revised version accepted 12 April 2016 ABSTRACT The use of mice as model organisms to study human biology is predicated on the genetic and physio- logical similarities between the species. Nonetheless, mice and humans have evolved in and become adapted to different environments and so, despite their phylogenetic relatedness, they have become very different organisms. Mice often respond to experimental interventions in ways that differ strikingly from humans. Mice are invaluable for studying biological processes that have been conserved during the evolution of the rodent and primate lineages and for investigating the developmental mechanisms by which the conserved mammalian genome gives rise to a variety of different species. Mice are less reliable as models of human disease, however, because the networks linking genes to disease are likely to differ between the two species. The use of mice in biomedical research needs to take account of the evolved differences as well as the similarities between mice and humans. KEYWORDS: allometry; cancer; gene networks; life history; model organisms transgenic, knockout, and knockin mice, have If you have cancer and you are a mouse, we can provided added impetus and powerful tools for take good care of you. Judah Folkman [1] mouse research, and have led to a dramatic increase in the use of mice as model organisms. -
History of Wildlife Management in West Virginia
History of Wildlife Management in West Virginia This article is a synthesis of two documents: a popular article for Wonderful West Virginia magazine written by Walt Lesser in 1996 and a comprehensive Historical Review of Game Management written by Jack Cromer in 2002. Both authors are retired wildlife biologists from the DNR Wildlife Resources Section. rom time to time, a look at the past prevents repeating mistakes or, at least provides satisfaction in seeing progress. In retrospect, the wildlife management profession in West Virginia experienced the Fsame ills and shortcomings that were typical elsewhere. Human population expansion, industrial growth and development of steam power all led to the exploitation of this state’s timber and wildlife resources following the Civil War. Such settlement and exploitation led to critically reduced numbers of some species, causing much concern to some people searching for means to change the course of events. History has shown that wildlife management usually started with the control of hunting followed by refuge establishment, “vermin control,” restocking (game farming), and environmental controls (habitat protection and enhancement). Laws and Law Enforcement Several species of large animals native to West Virginia were all killed off before hunting laws were passed. Elk, woodland bison and gray wolves were among the casualties. When West Virginia assumed statehood in 1863, it adopted a code of game and fish laws that had been enacted in the State of Virginia in 1849. The West Virginia Legislature passed its first law protecting wildlife in 1869 – killing game between February 14 and September 15, and killing certain species of birds was prohibited. -
MALAYSIAN PARASITIC MITES II. MYOBIIDAE (PROSTIGMATA) from RODENTS L 2 3 A
74 6 Vol. 6,No. 2 Internat. J. Acarol. 109 MALAYSIAN PARASITIC MITES II. MYOBIIDAE (PROSTIGMATA) FROM RODENTS l 2 3 A. Fain , F. S. Lukoschus and M. Nadchatram ----- ABSTRACT-The fur-mites of the family Myobiidae parasitic on rodents in Malaysia are studied. They belong to 9 species and 2 genera Radfordia Ewing and Myobia von Reyden. The new taxa include one new subgenus Radfordia (Rat timyobia); 4 new species~ Radfordia (Rat timyobia) pahangensis, R.(R.) selangorensis, R. (R.) subangensis, Myobia malaysiensis and one new subspecies Radfordia (Radfordia) ensifera jalorensis. These are described and illustrated. In addition, the male of Radfordia (Rat:ttmyouti.a) acinaciseta Wilson, 1967 is described for the first time. ----- During a stay in the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, F. S. L. collected a number of parasitic mites from various hosts (Fain et al., 1980). This paper deals with the species of Myobiidae found on rodents. Nine species in 2 genera-Radfordia and Myobia, , were collected. A new subgenus, Radfordia (Rattimyobia), 4 new species, Radfordia (Rattimyobia) pahangensi s, R. (R.) selangorensis, R. (R.) subangensis, Myobia malaysiensis, and 1 new subspecies, R. (Radfordia ) ensifera jalorensis, are described and illustrated. In addition, the male of R. (Rattimyobia) acinaciseta Wilson is described for the first time. The holotypes are deposited in the British Museum, Natural History, London. Paratypes are in the following institutions: Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur; Academy of Sciences, Department of Parasitology, Prague; Bernice Bishop Museum, Honolulu; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; Institut royal des Sciences naturelles, Bruxelles; Institute of Acaro logy, Columbus; Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg; Rijksmuseum Natural History, Leiden; U. -
Hamster Scientific Name: Cricetinae
Hamster Scientific Name: Cricetinae Written by Dr. Scott Medlin The term “hamster” includes multiple species of rodents from the subfamily Cricetinae who possess highly variable personalities and also have a somewhat unpredictable desire for human affection amongst individuals. Hamsters have been making wonderful pets for us for almost 100 years. There are three common species of hamster in the pet trade. The largest is the Syrian hamster (a.k.a. Golden hamsters). Syrian hamsters are the classic hamster that has been around as a pet for as long as anyone reading this can remember. A newer species that can now be found in pet stores these days are known as dwarf hamsters. The most common dwarf hamster species is the Campbell’s Russian dwarf hamster. This species is smaller than their Syrian cousins, and although scoring high marks for being adorable, tend towards being more independent and are not always as inherently affectionate towards humans. The Roborovski hamster (a.k.a. Robo’s) are the newest species in the pet trade, and are also the smallest hamsters commonly found in the pet trade. This species has only been easily available since the late 1990’s. They are approximately 1/10th the size of a typical Syrian hamster. Enclosure: There are many simple and acceptable options for housing hamsters that can be purchased at your local pet store. The simplest form of housing is the standard 20‐gallon glass or plastic aquarium with a screen lid and clamps. This set‐up can house a single Syrian hamster or a pair of the dwarf or Robo hamsters. -
Environmental Health: Control of Classification # Vermin/Pest 4005R-A
416R EFFECTIVE DATE SUBJECT 04/04/14 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: CONTROL OF CLASSIFICATION # VERMIN/PEST 4005R-A DISTRIBUTION APPROVED FOR WEB POSTING PAGE 2 OF A 10 PAGES X YES NO IV. PROCEDURE A. Integrated Pest Management Program The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is a three pronged approach to vermin/pest control. The program components are sanitation, vermin proofing, and the use of traps and the most target specific, least toxic pesticides to control and prevent vermin and pest activity. An effective sanitation program decreases the food supply and provision of shelter necessary for the habitation of vermin and pests. Vermin proofing consists of “building out” vermin and pests thereby preventing access into the facility. The identification and remediation of vermin entry points, including, but not limited to, missing and torn screens, missing drain covers, holes, gaps and separations along the floor, wall and ceiling, and missing door sweeps is essential to a successful IPM program. All staff members shall generate work orders to abate these conditions. Utilization of traps and the least toxic, most target specific pesticides is the final component of the program. B. Duties and Responsibilities 1. Commanding Officers shall ensure: a. All areas of the facility are clean and free of vermin entry points; b. All vermin related deficiencies cited on the public health sanitarian reports and other regulatory agency and oversight agency reports are abated expeditiously; c. All schedules and inspections detailed in this directive are adhered to; d. Adequate staffing is provided for all vermin/pest related tasks; e. All garbage, refuse, and recyclables are stored in tightly secured containers; f. -
Interspecific Attack on Mice and Frogs by Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus)
Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 1977, Vol. 9 (3),186-188 Interspecific attack on mice and frogs by golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) PAUL E. VAN HEMEL Franklin and MarshaU College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604 When tested for their reactions to mice, most male and female hamsters attacked with a pattern typical of hamster attacks on conspecifics_ Females attacked with shorter latency than did males, and the very few hamsters that consistently killed mice were all females. Latencies of attack decreased with repeated testing, even though most attacks were not followed by killing. When tested with frogs, hamsters typically avoided the frogs, although a few showed long-latency attacks and kills. A detailed description of the topography of interspecific attack by hamsters and other closely related groups would be useful as a beginning step in analysis of the function of interspecific attack. Psychologists investigating mouse-killing behavior in If hamsters attack mice and frogs, as rats do (Bandler rats have been primarily concerned with the causation & Moyer, 1970), then a comparison of behavioral and ontogeny of the behavior (polsky, 1975a). Studies phenotypes would be useful as a beginning step for that concentrate on such proximate determinants of functional analysis. Hamsters are known to attack behavior focus on issues quite different from those locusts (polsky, 1974, 1976) and may catch and raised by studies concerned with ultimate questions consume insects (Jacobs, 1945). There has even been about the function, or ecological significance, and the a report of spontaneous attacks by hamsters on mice evolution of behavior (Alcock, 1975). Some authors (Wnek & Leaf, 1973). -
Little Appetite for Obesity: Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Maternal Obesogenic Diets on Offspring Food Intake and Body Mass in Rodents
International Journal of Obesity (2015) 39, 1669–1678 © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 0307-0565/15 www.nature.com/ijo REVIEW Little appetite for obesity: meta-analysis of the effects of maternal obesogenic diets on offspring food intake and body mass in rodents M Lagisz1,2,3, H Blair4, P Kenyon4, T Uller5, D Raubenheimer6,7 and S Nakagawa1,2,3 BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition that maternal effects contribute to variation in individual food intake and metabolism. For example, many experimental studies on model animals have reported the effect of a maternal obesogenic diet during pregnancy on the appetite of offspring. However, the consistency of effects and the causes of variation among studies remain poorly understood. METHODS: After a systematic search for relevant publications, we selected 53 studies on rats and mice for a meta-analysis. We extracted and analysed data on the differences in food intake and body weight between offspring of dams fed obesogenic diets and dams fed standard diets during gestation. We used meta-regression to study predictors of the strength and direction of the effect sizes. RESULTS: We found that experimental offspring tended to eat more than control offspring but this difference was small and not statistically significant (0.198, 95% highest posterior density (HPD) = − 0.118–0.627). However, offspring from dams on obesogenic diets were significantly heavier than offspring of control dams (0.591, 95% HPD = 0.052–1.056). Meta-regression analysis revealed no significant influences of tested predictor variables (for example, use of choice vs no-choice maternal diet, offspring sex) on differences in offspring appetite. -
Total Ige As a Serodiagnostic Marker to Aid Murine Fur Mite Detection
Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Vol 51, No 2 Copyright 2012 March 2012 by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Pages 199–208 Total IgE as a Serodiagnostic Marker to Aid Murine Fur Mite Detection Gordon S Roble,1,2,* William Boteler,5 Elyn Riedel,3 and Neil S Lipman1,4 Mites of 3 genera—Myobia, Myocoptes, and Radfordia—continue to plague laboratory mouse facilities, even with use of stringent biosecurity measures. Mites often spread before diagnosis, predominantly because of detection dif!culty. Current detection methods have suboptimal sensitivity, are time-consuming, and are costly. A sensitive serodiagnostic technique would facilitate detection and ease workload. We evaluated whether total IgE increases could serve as a serodiagnostic marker to identify mite infestations. Variables affecting total IgE levels including infestation duration, sex, age, mite species, soiled-bedding exposure, and ivermectin treatment were investigated in Swiss Webster mice. Strain- and pinworm-associated effects were examined by using C57BL/6 mice and Swiss Webster mice dually infested with Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera, respectively. Mite infestations led to signi!cant increases in IgE levels within 2 to 4 wk. Total IgE threshold levels and corresponding sensitivity and speci!city values were determined along the continuum of a receiver-operating charac- teristic curve. A threshold of 81 ng/mL was chosen for Swiss Webster mice; values above this point should trigger screening by a secondary, more speci!c method. Sex-associated differences were not signi!cant. Age, strain, and infecting parasite caused variability in IgE responses. Mice exposed to soiled bedding showed a delayed yet signi!cant increase in total IgE.