Hamsters, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, Frogs, & Fish; Rabbits; Dogs, Cats, Pigs, and Small Ruminants; & Nonhuman Primates in Biomedical Research

What is the research niche of the hamster in biomedical research?

Transplantation research: buccal cheek pouch anatomy lends itself to transplantation of foreign material because it's immunologically privileged

(alt answers-> dental caries: cavities, hibernation: study of cold temperature diseases, radio-resistance)

What is the research niche of the gerbil in biomedical research?

the Circle of Willis is used as a stroke model to study brain function

What is the research niche of the guinea pig in biomedical research?

model for asthma and airway related diseases

(alt answers-> bronchitis, anaphylaxis, asthma, genetics, immunology, ontology)

What is the research niche of frogs in biomedical research?

cell and molecular biology research on testing compounds effect on frogs eggs (developmental research)

What is the research niche of fish in biomedical research?

toxicology, used for transgenic random insertions of DNA (huge embryo)

What is the research niche of the rabbit in biomedical research?

polyclonal Ab production

(alt answers -> toxicology (ocular, dermal, reproductive), orthopedics (IVD disease), cardiovascular disease, cancer, infectious diseases)

What is the research niche of dogs in biomedical research?

toxicology (drug trials) and orthopedics (total hip/knee implant testing)

What is the research niche of cats in biomedical research?

neurology, ophthalmology, retroviral research/AIDS (feline immunodeficiency virus)

What is the research niche of pigs in biomedical research?

cardiovascular disease (have 3 coronary arteries similar to humans)

(alt answers -> teaching, testing, diabetes, orthopedics, dermal studies, xenotransplantation)

What is the research niche of small ruminants in biomedical research?

twin studies (twins occur naturally for in-vitro studies)

(alt answers-> orthopedics)

What is the research niche of nonhuman primates (OWM) in biomedical research?

transplantation, toxicology, neurology, gynecology

What is the research niche of nonhuman primates (NWM) in biomedical research?

pharmacology, neurophysiology, viral oncology, infectious/non-infectious diseases

T/F: Guinea pigs eat regular rodent chow

false, they need vitamin C supplemented in their diet or they'll develop scurvy

1 multiple choice option

What are the characteristics of a sick research animals?

not eating food or drinking water, not urinanting or defecating, hunched posture, legathargic, ruffled/stained hair coat

How do you restrain hamsters?

by the loose skin of the neck

How do you restrain gerbils?

by the tail and the loose skin of the neck

How do you restrain guinea pigs?

cup like a football; grasping firmly around the chest and supporting the rear end while holding them close to you

How do you restrain frogs?

always moisten gloves first to avoid damaging mucus layer on skin; support in the palm of your hand or use nets to transfer

How do you restrain rabbits?

grab loose skin behind the neck behind ears in your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to secure butt and legs, tucking their face in your armpit (if not restrained properly, they can kick up and break their own back)

How do you restrain dogs?

control head between bicep and forearm (headlock) with their chin up and mouth closed while grabbing body near forelimbs OR lay them on their side and restrain limbs

How do you restrain cats?

very hard to restrain; cat bags, towels, chemical restraints, or similar to dogs if possible

How do you restrain pigs?

hog snares, panepinto slings (hammock for swine where they are suspended on their stomach), chemical restraints

How do you restrain small ruminants?

use horns as handles if applicable to retrain head and keep head up

How do you restrain nonhuman primates?

if bw greater than 10kg typically chemical restraints are used (ketamine), manual restraint is done using "squeeze back" cages, or pole and collar system

Where are the sites for compound administration in hamsters and gerbils?

intravascular (IV): cephalic vein, tarsal vein (toes), lingual vein (under the tongue), orbital sinus, jugular vein

SubQ, IP, & IM same as other rodents

Oral gavage

Cheek pouch can be everted to apply materials

Where are the sites for compound administration in guinea pigs?

same sites as hamsters and gerbils (intradermal is the only different one), auricular vein, anterior vena cava, medial saphenous vein, lateral metatarsal vein, indwelling catheters or osmotic pumps

Where are the sites for compound administration in frogs?

intracoelomic cavity or IM

Where are the sites for compound administration in rabbits?

IV: marginal ear vein (only for acute use because ear vein may collapse), catheterization of large vessels or vascular access port (longer term)

IM: in the cranial thigh muscle, or the caudal thigh muscle (pointed caudally to avoid the sciatic nerve; hamstring side), or the epaxial muscle

SubQ: dorsum of the back of the neck

Oral, IP, ocular

Where are the sites for compound administration in dogs and cats?

IV: jugular vein, saphenous vein (top of the forearms), cephalic vein (forelimbs)

IM: muscles on the cranial thigh of the hindlimbs

SubQ: dorsum back or neck

orally, via food, water, gavage, stomach tube

Where are the sites for compound administration in pigs?

IV: ear vein (acute use), vascular access port (for long term)

IM: muscles of the nape of the neck behind the ears or caudal thich muscles

SubQ: not practical because of thick skin

ID: same as other species, but not practical

Intranasal (nose), IP, or orally

Where are the sites for compound administration in small ruminants?

IV: jugular vein, cephalic vein, saphenous vein

Oral gavage

Where are the sites for compound administration in NHP?

IM, SQ, IV, IP, ID

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in hamsters and gerbils?

blood: orbital venous sinus, jugular, saphenous vein, lateral tarsal vein, cardiac vena cava (same volume and frequency as other rodents)

urine: metabolic cages- specifically designed to separate feces and urine; free catch, or cystocentesis (only way to get a sterile sample)

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in guinea pigs?

blood: ear vein (IV doesn't work), cephalic vein*, anterior vena cava, medial saphenous vein (superficial on the outside of the hip), lateral metatarsal vein, auricular vein, retro-orbital sinus, femoral vessels (deeper), or cardiac (only as a terminal procedure)

urine: cystocentesis, metabolic cages, free-catch

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in rabbits?

blood: central ear artery, marginal ear vein (21-25G), jugular, cardiac puncture (10% of total blood volume MAX, no more than every 2 weeks)

urine: cystocentesis, metabolic cages, free-catch

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in dogs and cats?

blood: jugular, saphenous (top of forearm), cephalic (forelimb)

urine: cystocentesis, metabolic cages, free-catch

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in pigs?

blood: tail vein, ear vein, anterior vena cava, mammary vein, cephalic vein, digital vein, external jugular vein, medial saphenous vein

urine: cystocentesis, metabolic cages, free-catch

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in small ruminants?

blood: jugular, saphenous (top of forearm), cephalic (forelimb)

urine: cystocentesis, metabolic cages, free-catch

Where are the sites for sample (blood/urine) collection in NHP?

blood: femoral vein is the most commonly used site

urine: metabolic cages

What are the methods of identification for hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs?

microchip, ear punch/ear tags

What are the methods of identification for frogs?

beads/staples on the webs of the toes, microchip, tattoo, photo of the body to capture color and pattern of skin

What are the methods of identification for rabbits?

microchip, ear punch/ear tags, tattoos, hair dyes

What are the methods of identification for dogs, cats, pigs, and small ruminants ?

microchips, tattoos (more common in larger animals), ear tags

What are the methods of identification for NHP?

chest tattoo, microchip

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with rabbits?

allergies, puncture, bite, scratch wounds

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with dogs?

rabies, gastrointestinal parasites, bite wounds, scratches, ringworm, endo/ectoparasites

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with cats?

toxoplasmosis (eggs in cat feces can cause fetal development defects in-vivo)

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with pigs?

intestinal bacteria (cryptosporidium, salmonella, E.coli), erysipelas

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with small ruminants?

Q fever (coxiella burnetii, abortions in animals, flu-like symptoms in humans), toxoplasmosis, Orf (viral pox), listeriosis

What are the zoonotic diseases associated with NHP?

cercopithecine herpesvirus (cold sore), ebola, shigella, salmonella, protozoan parasites, TB (NHP are sensitive), B virus (humans are sensitive)

(there's a whole book about diseases transmitted between NHP and humans)