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McCready JE, Barboza T. Rodent Pediatrics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2024; 27:193-219. [PMID: 38102043 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the development, hand-rearing, feeding, housing, and social behavior of common pet rodent species (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus). In addition, common gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and ophthalmic disorders in pediatric pet rodents are reviewed. Preventative care and indications for spaying and neutering are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianne E McCready
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Zoological Medicine Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 2065 West Farm Road, Stillwater, OK, USA.
| | - Trinita Barboza
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Zoological Companion Animal Service, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA, USA
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Sekulic S, Jovanovic A, Zivanovic Z, Simic S, Kesic S, Petkovic B, Capo I, van Loon JJ. Which precocial rodent species is more suitable as the experimental model of microgravity influence on prenatal musculosketal development on international space station? LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 33:48-57. [PMID: 35491029 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) has the possibility to perform experiments regarding rodent reproduction in microgravity. The musculoskeletal system at birth in precocial rodent species more resembles the human than that of altricial rodent species. For precocial rodent species with body weight ≤ 500 g (limit of ISS) determined were: adult body mass, newborn body mass, head-body length, tail length, existing variants (wild, domesticated, laboratory), single/group housing, dry food consumption/24 h, water intake/24 h, basal metabolic rate mlO2/g/h, environmental temperature, sand baths, urine output ml/24 h, fecal output g/24 h, size of fecal droplet, hair length, life span, length of oestrus cycle, duration of pregnancy, building nest, litter size, stage of musculoskeletal maturity at birth, and the duration of weaning. Characteristics were obtained by searching SCOPUS as well as the World Wide Web with key words for each of the species in English, Latin and, local language name. These characteristics were compared in order to find most appropriate species. Twelve precocial rodent species were identified. There is not enough data for Common yellow-toothed cavy, and Eastern spiny mouse. Inappropriate species were: Gundis, Dassie rat are a more demanding species for appropriate tending, litter size is small; Octodon degus requires sand baths as well as a nest during the first two weeks after delivery; muscle maturity of Spiny mouse at birth (myotubular stage), does not correspond to the human (late histochemical stage); Chinchilla requires separately housing, daily sand baths, has upper limit of weight. Possibility of keeping Southern mountain cavy as pet animal, short estrus, large litter size, absence of the need for nest and sand baths, makes this species the most promising candidates for experiments on ISS. If an experiment is planned with exposing gravid animals before term of the birth, then they might be kept together in the existing Rodent Habitat (USA). If an experiment with birth in microgravity is planned on ISS, the existing habitats do not provide conditions for such an experiment. It is necessary to develop habitats for separate keeping of pregnant animals to enable the following: 1. undisturbed delivery 2. prevent the possibility of hurting the newborns 3. ensure adequate post-partum maternal care and nursing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slobodan Sekulic
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Aleksandar Jovanovic
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Zeljko Zivanovic
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Svetlana Simic
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Srdjan Kesic
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branka Petkovic
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Capo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jack Jwa van Loon
- Department Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, Amsterdam Movement Sciences & Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), Amsterdam University Medical Center location VUmc & Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; TEC-MMG-LISLab, European Space Agency (ESA) Technology Center (ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands
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Managing the Health of Captive Herds of Exotic Companion Mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2021; 24:547-566. [PMID: 34366010 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Common medical problems diagnosed and treated in individual companion exotic mammals are relevant in a herd-health setting. Many of these problems are often associated with poor husbandry and/or inappropriate nutrition. Rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, and rodents have been domesticated alongside humans and an understanding of their ethology gives veterinarians a base knowledge in making recommendations for animals in their care. This article briefly reviews the ethology and husbandry in such species, but detailed needs are beyond the scope of this article.
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Octodon degus: a natural model of multimorbidity for ageing research. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 64:101204. [PMID: 33152453 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Integrating the multifactorial processes co-occurring in both physiological and pathological human conditions still remains one of the main challenges in translational investigation. Moreover, the impact of age-associated disorders has increased, which underlines the urgent need to find a feasible model that could help in the development of successful therapies. In this sense, the Octodon degus has been indicated as a 'natural' model in many biomedical areas, especially in ageing. This rodent shows complex social interactions and high sensitiveness to early-stressful events, which have been used to investigate neurodevelopmental processes. Interestingly, a high genetic similarity with some key proteins implicated in human diseases, such as apolipoprotein-E, β-amyloid or insulin, has been demonstrated. On the other hand, the fact that this animal is diurnal has provided important contribution in the field of circadian biology. Concerning age-related diseases, this rodent could be a good model of multimorbidity since it naturally develops cognitive decline, neurodegenerative histopathological hallmarks, visual degeneration, type II diabetes, endocrinological and metabolic dysfunctions, neoplasias and kidneys alterations. In this review we have collected and summarized the studies performed on the Octodon degus through the years that support its use as a model for biomedical research, with a special focus on ageing.
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Łapiński S, Orel J, Niedbała P, Kucharska W, Jakubowska M, Lisowska-Lis A, Tombarkiewicz B, Lis MW. Infrared Thermography as an Indicator of Heat Loss in Fur-Chewing Chinchillas ( Chinchilla Lanigera). J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2019; 23:338-347. [PMID: 31095420 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2019.1614924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Fur-chewing is a common problem in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). It may affect the welfare of animals due to heat loss, thereby possibly impacting food and water intake to maintain body temperature. In this context, infrared thermography seems to be a suitable method of measuring heat emissions from the surface of objects. Sexually mature male domestic chinchillas were divided into two groups: "non-fur chewers", exhibiting normal behaviour (n = 25), and "fur chewers" displaying fur-chewing behaviour (n = 23). Food and water intake (mean ± SD) measured in the control animals amounted to 20.7 ± 4.52 g and 15.9 ± 3.45 mL, while in fur-chewing chinchillas were 25% and 33% higher, respectively. Metabolic energy intake, were calculated 2.2 and 2.8 W for the control and fur-chewing animals, respectively. Heat flux through chewed areas was 6.06 mW cm-2, which is 2.8 times higher than through undamaged chinchilla fur. To sum up, thermal imagingexplicitly shows that fur-chewing causes increased heat loss. Disturbances in the maintenance of thermal homeostasis may be an additional factor that reduces the welfare of these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanisław Łapiński
- Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Orel
- Department of Veterinary, Reproduction and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Niedbała
- Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | - Weronika Kucharska
- Department of Veterinary, Reproduction and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Jakubowska
- Department of Veterinary, Reproduction and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Barbara Tombarkiewicz
- Department of Veterinary, Reproduction and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin W Lis
- Department of Veterinary, Reproduction and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków , Kraków, Poland
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Gherman CM, Kalmár Z, Györke A, Mircean V. Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in farmed long-tailed chinchillas Chinchilla lanigera (Rodentia) from Romania. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:86. [PMID: 29415759 PMCID: PMC5804011 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2652-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Giardia duodenalis is a parasitic protist that infects a large number of species, being localized in the small intestine. Two of the eight recognized assemblages have zoonotic potential, but studies regarding their distribution in less important pet or farm species are scarce. Of these species, the long-tailed chinchilla is a host for Giardia spp., although data on the spread of infection and assemblages involved are confined. The present work aimed to determine the prevalence of Giardia infection and assemblage identification in farmed chinchillas in Romania. A total of 341 fecal samples were collected from 5 farms and microscopically examined using flotation test based on saturated sodium chloride solution. DNA from all positive samples was extracted and identified by PCR targeting the gdh gene. Results The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 55.7% (190/341); there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.25) in prevalence between young animals (58.8%) and adults (52.6%). Assemblages B (151/190), D (33/190) and E (6/190) were identified. Among assemblage B, sub-assemblages BIII (6/151) and BIV (145/151) were determined. Conclusions This study demonstrates that Giardia spp. infection is highly prevalent in farmed chinchillas from Romania, and the sub-assemblages identified are potentially zoonotic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Călin Mircea Gherman
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department Cluj-Napoca, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department Cluj-Napoca, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Adriana Györke
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department Cluj-Napoca, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Viorica Mircean
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department Cluj-Napoca, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Balsiger A, Clauss M, Liesegang A, Dobenecker B, Hatt JM. Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) drinking preferences: do nipple drinkers compensate for behaviourally deficient diets? J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2016; 101:1046-1056. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Balsiger
- Clinic for Zoo Animals; Wildlife and Exotics Pets; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals; Wildlife and Exotics Pets; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - A. Liesegang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - B. Dobenecker
- Chair of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics; Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich; Oberschleissheim Germany
| | - J.-M. Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals; Wildlife and Exotics Pets; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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Martel-Arquette A, Mans C. Urolithiasis in chinchillas: 15 cases (2007 to 2011). J Small Anim Pract 2016; 57:260-4. [DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Martel-Arquette
- Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine; University of Wisconsin-Madison; 2015 Linden Drive Madison WI 53706 USA
| | - C. Mans
- Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine; University of Wisconsin-Madison; 2015 Linden Drive Madison WI 53706 USA
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Doss GA, Mans C, Houseright RA, Webb JL. Urinalysis in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016; 248:901-7. [DOI: 10.2460/javma.248.8.901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hagen KB, Dittmann MT, Ortmann S, Kreuzer M, Hatt JM, Clauss M. Retention of solute and particle markers in the digestive tract of chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger
). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2016; 100:801-6. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. B. Hagen
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. T. Dittmann
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Institute for Agricultural Sciences; ETH Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - S. Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - M. Kreuzer
- Institute for Agricultural Sciences; ETH Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - J.-M. Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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11
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Hagen KB, Besselmann D, Cyrus-Eulenberger U, Vendl C, Ortmann S, Zingg R, Kienzle E, Kreuzer M, Hatt JM, Clauss M. Digestive physiology of the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus): A large herbivorous hystricomorph rodent. Zoo Biol 2015; 34:345-59. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina B. Hagen
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Dorothea Besselmann
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Cyrus-Eulenberger
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Catharina Vendl
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW); Berlin Germany
| | | | - Ellen Kienzle
- Chair of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics; Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich; Munich Germany
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences; ETH Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Jean-Michel Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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Hagen KB, Tschudin A, Liesegang A, Hatt JM, Clauss M. Organic matter and macromineral digestibility in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus
) as compared to other hindgut fermenters. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2015; 99:1197-209. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. B. Hagen
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - A. Tschudin
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - A. Liesegang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - J.-M. Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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