Lab Animal Health Management - Week 3

Mongolian Gerbil

*Meriones ungulatus*

All Mongolian gerbils available for research were derived from 20 pairs trapped in eastern mongolia in _______.

1935

Other name(s) for gerbils

jirds; desert rats

For handling gerbils, grab _____ of tail not the tip.

base

Can gerbils experience tail slips?

yes

Gerbil uses in research

* infectious diseases
* epilepsy (seizure prone and resistant strains)
* stroke
* dental diseases
* audiogenic disorders
* behavior
* diseases caused by filarial nematodes

Anatomy of gerbils

* strong hind limbs, have tendency to jump
* long furred tail with a tuft of hair on the end

What is a ventral marking gland?

a gland near the distal abdomen used to mark territory

* rub to mark territory
* larger in males

What % of gerbils can have spontaneous seizures?

20%-50%

Do gerbils have canine or premolar teeth?

no

What type of incisors do gerbils have?

open-rooted (grow constantly)

Gerbils require a lot of water. T/F?

False; they require very little water and produce a small amount of concentrated urine

Gerbils form ______________ breeding pairs.

monogamous

Attempts to separate pairs of gerbils to mate with another animals are

unsuccessful and can result in fighting and death

Establish breeding gerbil pairs before they reach _________.

maturity

How are gerbils sexed?

anogenital distance

Postpartum estrus is gerbils

may delay implantation and can increase gestation up to 48 days

What is the sexual maturity age of gerbils?

70-84 days

What is a gerbils estrus cycle?

polyesters (every 4-6 days)

How long is a gerbils gestation period?

24-26 days

What is the litter size of gerbils?

4-5 pups

At what age are gerbils weaned?

21 days

Reproduction in gerbils…

* males thumb with their hind feet when mating
* vaginal pug forms after mating but usually undetectable
* females have a high incidence of ovarian cysts
* do not disturb lactating mothers (cannibalism)

Behavior, husbandry, and diet of gerbils

* clean, docile and curious
* less urine output, less odor
* cyclic activity during dark and light
* sanitation same as rats and mice
* food same as rats and mice
* like to burrow - provide deep bedding

\

Foot stomping in gerbils:

sex ritual, danger signals to colony, warning to intruders 

Do gerbils require sand bathing?

yes, to prevent oily coats

Do gerbil cages need to be tall enough for them to stand erect?

yes

Guinea pigs

*Cavia porcellus*

Inbred guinea pig strains

strain 2 and strain 13

Outbred guinea pig strains

Hartley (albino)

Hartley Charles River Guinea Pig

IAF Hairless Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are native to

Andes Mountains of South America

Guinea Pigs are related to

chinchilla and porcupine

Guinea Pig uses in research

* nutritional studies (Vitamin C)
* Immune System Function
* Infectious Disease Studies
* Otology

\

What was the first lab animal species derived and maintained in an axenic state?

Guinea Pigs

How do you restrain a guinea pig?

* one hand over shoulder, thumb and forefingers behind front legs


* other hand under hindquarters

What is the lifespan of Guinea Pigs?

4-6 years

Do guinea pigs vomit?

no, just like other rodents they do not vomit and they do not need to be fasted prior to anesthesia

Guinea pig molars and incisors continue to grow throughout their life. T/F?

true; may need to be trimmed/filed regularly

A male guinea pig is called a

boar

A female guinea pig is called a

sow

Females tend to have a ____ - shaped opening in the anogenital space.

Y

When are guinea pigs ready to breed?

12 weeks

Should guinea pigs be bred for the first time after 7 months of age?

no, fat and fused pubic symphysis cause dystocia

Young, newborn guinea pigs are _____________. (fully furred, active, eating solid food).

precocious

Both _________ and _____________ breeding systems can be used in guinea pigs.

monogamous; harem

Do guinea pigs build nests?

no

How long is guinea pig gestation?

59-72 days

What are the symptoms of pregnancy toxemia in guinea pigs?

* reduced appetite
* lack of energy
* excessive salivation

How long is postpartum estrus in guinea pigs?

2-15 hours after parturition

Behavior and husbandry of Guinea Pigs

* Vocalize, squeal, whistle
* Squeal or squeak if in pain or frightened
* easily startle, panic, “stampede”
* mature boars may fight and group-housing of adult males is NOT recommended
* waste foods; sit in food dish and soil foods
* blow food into sipper tubes
* barbering
* can’t climb; short legs
* make gradual changes to environment and husbandry

Are guinea pigs susceptible to respiratory diseases?

Yes; avoid drafts and temperature extremes, use low dust-content bedding

Are wire-bottom cages recommended for guinea pigs?

No; due to bumble foot

Guinea pigs have very thick, acidic urine. T/F?

True; may need acid descaler for cage washing

Domestic guinea pig’s diet is completely _________________.

herbivorous; provide good quality grass hay at all times

Guinea pig diet MUST include ________________.

Vitamin CWh

What will occur if guinea pigs do not receive vitamin C?

Scurvy

Most commercially available lab guinea pig chows now contain stabilized vitamin C and can be used for _____ days post-milling.

180

If not stabilized, guinea pig chow older than ____ days should not be used.

90

Can guinea pigs eat typical rodent chow?

No

If pregnant, guinea pigs need _____mg of vitamin C daily.

20

If not pregnant, guinea pigs need ___ mg of vitamin C daily.

10

Environmental enrichment for guinea pigs

PVC tubing

Boxes

Hay or fresh leafy greens

nylon chew bones

Scientific name of swine

*Sus scrofa domestica*

What are swine used for in research?

* cardiovascular studies
* exercise physiology
* nutrition
* surgery
* atherosclerosis
* diabetes
* transplantation

What 2 types of swine are used in research?

Domestic and Mini

* yorkshire
* duroc
* landrace breeds miniature swine

Miniature swine

* Sinclair
* hanford
* pitman-moore & yucatan strains for chronic studies and studies that relate to adult metabolism or physiology; Gottingen most frequently used in Europe

Domestic pigs are typically used for ______ - ________ studies.

short term; due to their rapid growth and large size

Mini Pigs are typically used for _____ - _____ studies.

longer term; used for studies of cardiovascular disease, gerontology, and toxicology

Göttingen pigs max out at about ____ lbs.

70

Are internal organs and skin of swine similar to humans?

yes; skin, teeth, upper GI tract, heart position, and blood supply

Mature boars have __ upper and __ lower canine teeth known as tusks.

2;2

Barrows may have tusks. T/F?

True

Sows have less developed tusks. T/F?

True

Swine tusks should be trimmed periodically as they grow continuously throughout life. T/F?

True

What is V-trough restraint used for in swine?

used to restrain small pigs on their backs for non painful procedures (blood collection)

What is snare restraint used for in swine?

* used to restrain larger domestic strands in a standing position
* Causes struggling and vocalization
* in general, not recommended if can be avoided
* if used improperly, can cause bleeding of gums and damage to teeth

What type of restraint in swine is a Panepinto sling used for?

used for venipuncture. oral dosing, eye examinations, hoof trimming, and veterinary care

* holds animal in a fleece-lined hammock
* comfortable restraint and immobilized for handling by 1 person

What is malignant hyperthermia?

Porcine stress syndrome

* causes generalized, extensive skeletal muscle contraction, which can lead to a fatal hyper metabolic state
* landrace, portland china, and piétrain most susceptible
* Halothane most commonly triggers, but isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane can also trigger
* also triggered by stress, exercise, and depolarizing NM blocking drugs

What is the treatment for malignant hyperthermia (porcine stress syndrome)?

largely symptomatic; ice packs, alcohol baths, disc anesthetic

Female swine that has not produced a litter:

gilt

Intact male swine;

boar

Intact female swine:

sow

Castrated male swine:

barrow

Sow breeding season extends over a whole ____.

year

Estrus in swine is recognized by

vaginal mucous discharge + swollen, congested, moist external genitalia and mounting behavior

At what age can gilts be bred to farrow?

12-14 months

Increasing feed allowance 7-10 days before breeding may increase ___________ rate and ___________________.

ovulation; litter size

Pregnancy has occurred if no estrus present within ____ days after mating.

after

Pregnancy is confirmed in swine at 60-90 days of gestation by _____________.

radiography

Sexual maturity of swine

7-9 months

Estrous cycle of swine

18-24 days

Gestation of swine

112-115 days

Typical litter size of swine

8-15

Weaning age of swine

4-6 weeks old

Piglets often supplemented with ________________ injection for iron deficiency anemia.

iron dextran

Piglets need __mg/pig/day in the first few weeks of life.

7

Sow milk often only supplies 1mg/day and up to ___% of newborn piglets are anemic.

90

ID methods for swine

* ear tags
* ear tattooing