Hamsters and Gerbils

Question 1

Genus and species of Golden Syrian Hamster

Answer 1

Mesocricetus auratus

Question 2

Genus and species of Chinese hamsters

Answer 2

Cricetulus griseus

Question 3

Genus and species of Mongolian gerbils

Answer 3

Meriones unguiculatus

Question 4

Models of research that use gerbils

Answer 4

seizure and epilepsy research.
Seizures are genetic

Nutritional studies: susceptible to high-fat, high-cholesterol diets

Question 5

Incisor teeth in hamsters and gerbils are hypsodont and elodont, what are the cheek teeth?

Answer 5

brachydont

Question 6

Syrian hamsters produce an off-white, vaginal discharge during estrus (just after ovulation). T or F

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Protein requirements of hamsters and gerbils

Answer 7

Hamsters (14-17%), Gerbils (22%)

Question 8

“Wet-tail” in hamsters is commonly caused by what bacteria?

Answer 8

Lawsonia Intracellularis

Question 9

Common treatment for “wet-tail”?

Answer 9

Tetracycline, enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfa

Question 10

Diarrhea in adult hamsters is commonly caused by what bacteria?

Answer 10

Clostridium difficile.
Post antibiotic therapy.
Guarded prognosis

Question 11

Tyzzers dz is caused by what bacteria?

Answer 11

Clostridium piliformes, in pet store animals

Question 12

Tyzzers causes a high mortality in rats and mice. T or F

Answer 12

False, Hamsters and gerbils

Question 13

Name a zoonotic intestinal parasite of hamsters.

Answer 13

Hymenolepis nana

Question 14

What condition is seen in research hamsters exposed to social stress induced by overcrowding?

Answer 14

Amyloidosis

Question 15

Primary composition of urinary crystals in hamsters

Answer 15

Struvite

Question 16

What is the pH of normal hamster urine?

Answer 16

8

Question 17

What type of hamster is prone to mammary adenocarcinoma?

Answer 17

Djungarian hamsters

Question 18

What environmental conditions trigger cannibalism of the young?

Answer 18

cold ambient temperatures (<50F), lean diets, low body weights (especially during pregnancy)

Question 19

What type of hamster is more prone to cardiac disease?

Answer 19

Syrian

Question 20

What type of hamster is more prone to respiratory disease?

Answer 20

Djungarian

Question 21

What condition occurs in aging research hamsters (up to 73%)?

Answer 21

Atrial thrombosis (left side) with secondary heart failure and consumptive coagulopathy. Occurs in younger age female (13.5 mos) than males (21.5 mos)

Question 22

What influences the incidence of atrial thrombosis?

Answer 22

The amount of circulating androgen (endocrine). Castrating males increases incidence.

Question 23

What influences the length of hair in a teddy bear Syrian hamster?

Answer 23

Testosterone

Question 24

Djungarian hamsters are 5x more likely to develop neoplasias than Syrian hamsters. T or F

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Common fur mite in hamsters

Answer 25

Acarus farris

Question 26

Most common neoplasm of hamsters

Answer 26

Lymphoma (cutaneous is frequent and resembles human epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma)

Question 27

Hamsters are sensitive to radiation. T or F.

Answer 27

False. Hamsters are most radioresistant of lab animals.

Question 28

Most common cause of fatal infection in gerbils

Answer 28

Tyzzer's dz caused by Bacillus piliformis (diarrhea)

Question 29

Gerbil pinworm

Answer 29

Denstomella translucida

Question 30

The lack of what enzyme causes reflex stereotypic epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures in gerbils (genetic)?

Answer 30

Cerebral glutamine synthetase. Starts ~2mos of age and most animals outgrow

Question 31

What bacteria causes neurologic signs in gerbils?

Answer 31

Bacillus piliformis

Question 32

Cystic ovaries occur in what type of laboratory gerbil?

Answer 32

Mongolian gerbil. Remove it.

Question 33

What two zoonotic diseases are children at risk for when keeping hamsters or gerbils as pets?

Answer 33

lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and hantavirus

Question 34

What type of retina does a hamster have?

Answer 34

Holangiotic- entire neurosensory receives blood supply that radiates out like spokes.

Question 35

The use of what antibiotic in hamsters will cause reduced tear production for 14 days?

Answer 35

Trimethoprim sulfa

Question 36

Hamsters (and mice) are not susceptible to what gram negative rod that afflicts rabbits and other rodents?

Answer 36

Bordetella bronchiseptica