Laboratory Syrian hamster

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Normal gait of an individual lab-bred hamster. Certain tests may change normal behavior.

Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) are one of several rodents used in animal testing. Syrian hamsters are used to model human medical conditions including various cancers, metabolic diseases, non-cancer respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and general health concerns. [1] In 2014, Syrian hamsters accounted for 14.6% of the total animal research participants in the United States covered by the Animal Welfare Act. [2]

Contents

Use in research

Since 1972 the use of hamsters in animal testing research has declined. [3] In 2014 in the United States, animal research used about 120,000 hamsters, which was 14.6% of the total research animal use (under the Animal Welfare Act which excludes mice, rats, and fish) for that year in that country. [3] [2] According to the Canadian Council for Animal Care, a total of 1,931 hamsters were used for research in 2013 in Canada, making them the sixth-most popular rodent after mice (1,233,196), rats (228,143), guinea pigs (20,687), squirrels (4,446) and voles (2,457). [4]

Human medical research

Cancer research

Humans get lung cancer from tobacco smoking. [5] Syrian hamsters are a model for researching non-small-cell lung carcinoma, which is one of the types of human lung cancer. [5] In research, when hamsters are injected with the carcinogen NNK several times over six months, they will develop that sort of cancer. [6] In both Syrian hamsters and humans, this cancer is associated with mutations to the KRAS gene. [7] For various reasons, collecting data on the way that Syrian hamsters develop this lung cancer provides insight on how humans develop it. [6]

Oral squamous-cell carcinoma is a common cancer in humans and difficult to treat. [8] Scientists studying this disease broadly accept Syrian hamsters as animal models for researching it. [8] In this research, the hamster is given anesthesia, has its mouth opened to expose the inside of its cheeks, and the researcher brushes the carcinogen DMBA on its cheeks. [8] The scientist can take cell samples from the mouth of the hamster to measure the development of the cancer. [8] This process has good reproducibility. [8] The cancer itself develops tumors in a predictable way starting with hyperkeratosis, then hyperplasia, then dysplasia, then carcinoma. [8] In humans with this cancer there is increased ErbB2 production of receptor tyrosine kinase and Syrian hamsters with this cancer also have increased levels of that kinase. [9] As the tumor develops in the hamster, they also have increased gene expression in p53 and c-myc which is similar to human cancer development. [10] Because hamsters develop this cancer so predictably, researchers are comfortable in using hamsters in research on prevention and treatment. [11]

There is scientific and social controversy about the virus SV40 causing cancers in human. [12] Leaving that controversy aside, Syrian hamsters injected with SV40 certainly will develop various cancers in predictable ways depending on how they are exposed to the virus. [13] The hamster has been used as a research model to clarify what SV40 does in humans. [14]

The golden hamster can contract contagious reticulum cell sarcoma [15] which can be transmitted from one golden hamster to another by means of the bite of the mosquito Aedes aegypti . [16]

Metabolic disorders

Syrian hamsters are susceptible to many metabolic disorders which affect humans. [17] Because of this, hamsters are an excellent animal model for studying human metabolic disorder. [17]

Gallstones may be induced in Syrian hamsters by giving the hamster excess dietary cholesterol or sucrose. [18] Hamsters metabolize cholesterol in a way that is similar to humans. [19] Different sorts of fats are more or less likely to produce gallstones in hamsters. [20] The gender differences in gallstone formation in hamsters is significant. [20] Hamsters of different genetic strains have significant differences in susceptibility to forming gallstones. [20]

Diabetes mellitus is studied in various ways using Syrian hamsters. Hamsters which are feed fructose for 7 days get hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. [21] Such hamsters then have an increase in hepatic lipase and other measurable responses which are useful for understanding diabetes in humans. [21] Streptozotocin or alloxan may be administered to induce chronic diabetes in hamsters. [21]

Atherosclerosis may be studied with Syrian hamsters because both organisms have similar lipid metabolism. [22] Hamsters develop atherosclerosis as a result of dietary manipulation. [22] Hamsters develop atherosclerotic plaques as humans do. [22]

Non-cancer respiratory disease

Smoke inhalation can be studied on Syrian hamsters by putting the hamster in a laboratory smoking machine. [23] Pregnant hamsters have been used to model the effects of smoking on pregnant humans. [24]

The emphysema component of COPD may be induced in hamsters by injecting pancreatic elastase into their tracheas. [25]

Pulmonary fibrosis may be induced in hamsters by injecting bleomycin into their tracheas. [26] [27]

Cardiovascular

Cardiomyopathy in hamsters is an inherited condition and there are genetic lines of hamsters which are bred to retain this gene so that they may be used to study the disease. [28]

Microcirculation may be studied in hamster cheek pouches. [29] The pouches of hamsters are thin, easy to examine without stopping bloodflow, and highly vascular. [29] When examined, the cheek pouch is pulled through the mouth while being grasped with forceps. [30] At this point the cheek is everted and can be pinned onto a mount for examination. [30]

Reperfusion injury may be studied with everted hamster pouches also. [31] To simulate reperfusion, one method is to tie a cuff around the pouch to restrict blood flow and cause ischemia. [32] Another method could be to compress the veins and arteries with microvascular clips which do not cause trauma. [33] In either case, after about an hour of restricting the blood, the pressure is removed to study how the pouch recovers. [31]

Several inbred strains of hamsters have been developed as animal models for human forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. The gene responsible for hamster cardiomyopathy in a widely studied inbred hamster strain, BIO14.6, has been identified as being delta-sarcoglycan. [34] Pet hamsters are also potentially prone to cardiomyopathy, which is a not infrequent cause of unexpected sudden death in adolescent or young adult hamsters.

Infection research

Syrian hamsters have been infected with a range of disease causing agents to study both the disease and the cause of the disease.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a medical condition in humans caused by any of the Hantavirus species. Syrian hamsters easily contract Hantavirus species, but they do not get the same symptoms as humans, and the same infection that is deadly in humans have effects ranging from nothing to flu to death in Syrian hamsters. [35] Because hamsters become easily infected, they are used to study the pathogenesis of Hantavirus. [36] Andes virus and Maporal viruses infect hamsters and cause pneumonia and edema. [37] [38] The Sin Nombre virus and Choclo virus will infect hamsters but not cause any disease. [35] [39]

SARS coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory syndrome in humans. Syrian hamsters may be infected with the virus, and like humans will have viral replication and lesions in the respiratory tract which can be examined with histopathological tests. [40] However, hamsters do not develop clinical symptoms of the disease. [41] Hamsters might be used to study the infection process. [42]

Leptospira viruses cause Leptospirosis in humans and similar symptoms in Syrian hamsters. [40] [43] Syrian hamsters are used to test drugs to treat the disease. [44]

Bacteria that have been studied by infection Syrian hamsters with them include Leptospira , Clostridioides difficile , Mycoplasma pneumoniae , and Treponema pallidum . [45]

Parasites which have been studied by infecting Syrian hamsters with them include Toxoplasma gondii , Babesia microti , Leishmania donovani , Trypanosoma cruzi , Opisthorchis viverrini , Taenia , Ancylostoma ceylanicum , and Schistosoma . [46]

Syrian hamsters are infected with scrapie so that they get transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. [47]

In March 2020, researchers from the University of Hong Kong have shown that Syrian hamsters could be a model organism for COVID-19 research. [48]

Other medical conditions

Scientists use male hamsters to study the effects of steroids on male behavior. [49] The behavior of castrated hamsters is compared to typical male hamsters. [49] Castrated hamsters are then given steroids and their behavior noted. [49] Some steroid treatments will cause castrated hamsters to do behaviors that typical male hamsters do. [49]

Poor nutrition may cause female infertility in mammals. [50] When hamsters do not have enough of the right food, they have fewer estrous cycles. [51] Studies in hamsters identify the nutritional needs for maintaining fertility. [52]

Syrian hamsters are used to study how NSAIDs can cause reactive gastropathy. [53] One way to study is to inject hamsters with indometacin, which causes an ulcer within 1–5 hours depending on the dose. [54] If repeatedly given doses, hamsters get severe lesions and die within 5 days from peptic ulcers in their pyloric antrum. [54] A model for creating a chronically ill hamster which will not die from the ulcers is to give naproxen by gavage. [55] When the hamster is chronically ill, it can be used to test anti-ulcer drugs. [55]

Syrian hamsters are also widely used in research into alcoholism, by virtue of their large livers, and ability to metabolise high doses. [56]

Research on Syrian hamsters themselves

In captivity, golden hamsters follow well-defined daily routines of running in their hamster wheel, which has made them popular subjects in circadian rhythms research. For example, Martin Ralph, Michael Menaker, and colleagues used this behavior to provide definitive evidence that the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain is the source of mammalian circadian rhythms. [57]

Hamsters have a number of fixed action patterns that are readily observed, including scent-marking and body grooming, which is of interest in the study of animal behavior.

Scientific studies of animal welfare concerning captive golden hamsters have shown they prefer to use running wheels of large diameters (35 cm diameter was preferred over 23 cm, [58] and 23  cm over 17.5  cm, [59] ), and that they prefer bedding material which allows them to build nests, if nesting material is not already available. [60] They prefer lived-in bedding (up to two weeks old – longer durations were not tested) over new bedding, suggesting they may prefer bedding changes at two-week intervals rather than weekly or daily. [61] They also prefer opaque tubes closed at one end, 7.6 cm in diameter, to use as shelter in which to nest and sleep. [62]

Notes

  1. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, pp. 875–898.
  2. 1 2 Speaking of Research (2015), US Statistics, Speaking of Research, retrieved 18 April 2016
  3. 1 2 Smith 2012, p. 750.
  4. ↑ CCAC – CCAC Animal Data Report 2013
  5. 1 2 Valentine 2012, p. 877 cites
  6. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 877.
  7. ↑ Valentine 2012, p. 877 cites
    • Oreffo, VI; Lin, HW; Gumerlock, PH; Kraegel, SA; Witschi, H (1992). "Mutational analysis of a dominant oncogene (c-Ki-ras-2) and a tumor suppressor gene (p53) in hamster lung tumorigenesis". Molecular Carcinogenesis. 6 (3): 199–202. doi:10.1002/mc.2940060305. PMID   1445620. S2CID   46715712.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Valentine 2012, pp. 877–878 cites
    • Vairaktaris, E; Spyridonidou, S; Papakosta, V; Vylliotis, A; Lazaris, A; Perrea, D; Yapijakis, C; Patsouris, E (April 2008). "The hamster model of sequential oral oncogenesis". Oral Oncology. 44 (4): 315–24. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2007.08.015. PMID   18061531.
  9. ↑ Valentine 2012, pp. 877–878 cites
  10. ↑ Valentine 2012, pp. 877–878 cites
    • Papakosta, V; Vairaktaris, E; Vylliotis, A; Derka, S; Nkenke, E; Vassiliou, S; Lazaris, A; Mourouzis, C; Rallis, G; Spyridonidou, S; Anagnostopoulou, S; Perrea, D; Donta, I; Yapijakis, C; Patsouris, E (n.d.). "The co-expression of c-myc and p53 increases and reaches a plateau early in oral oncogenesis". Anticancer Research. 26 (4B): 2957–62. PMID   16886620.
  11. ↑ Valentine 2012, p. 877-878 cites
  12. ↑ Valentine 2012, pp. 877–878 cites
  13. ↑ Valentine 2012, p. 878 cites
  14. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 878.
  15. ↑ Copper, H. L.; MacKay, C. M.; Banfield, W. G. (1 October 1964). "Chromosome Studies of a Contagious Reticulum Cell Sarcoma of the Syrian Hamster". Journal of the National Cancer Institute . 33: 691–706. doi:10.1093/jnci/33.4.691. PMID   14220251.
  16. ↑ Banfield, William G.; Woke, P. A.; MacKay, C. M.; Cooper, H. L. (28 May 1965). "Mosquito Transmission of a Reticulum Cell Sarcoma of Hamsters". Science . 148 (3674): 1239–1240. Bibcode:1965Sci...148.1239B. doi:10.1126/science.148.3674.1239. PMID   14280009. S2CID   12611674.
  17. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 879 cites
    • Ginsberg, HN (July 1996). "Diabetic dyslipidemia: basic mechanisms underlying the common hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol levels". Diabetes. 45 (Suppl 3): S27–30. doi:10.2337/diab.45.3.s27. PMID   8674885. S2CID   41069166.
    • Gotto AM, Jr (14 December 1992). "Hypertriglyceridemia: risks and perspectives". The American Journal of Cardiology. 70 (19): 19H–25H. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(92)91086-j. PMID   1466313.
    • Laakso, Markku (2009). "Lipids and Lipoproteins as Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus". Annals of Medicine. 28 (4): 341–345. doi:10.3109/07853899608999091. ISSN   0785-3890. PMID   8862689.
    • Lamarche, B; Lewis, GF (June 1998). "Atherosclerosis prevention for the next decade: risk assessment beyond low density lipoprotein cholesterol". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 14 (6): 841–51. PMID   9676170.
  18. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 880 cites Trautwein, EA; Siddiqui, A; Hayes, KC (September 1999). "Characterization of the bile acid profile in developing male and female hamsters in response to dietary cholesterol challenge". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 124 (1): 93–103. doi:10.1016/s1095-6433(99)00095-1. PMID   10605070.
    • Cohen, BI; Matoba, N; Mosbach, EH; McSherry, CK (February 1989). "Dietary induction of cholesterol gallstones in hamsters from three different sources". Lipids. 24 (2): 151–6. doi:10.1007/bf02535254. PMID   2755304. S2CID   4001895.
  19. ↑ Khallou, J; Riottot, M; Parquet, M; Verneau, C; Lutton, C (November 1991). "Biodynamics of cholesterol and bile acids in the lithiasic hamster". The British Journal of Nutrition. 66 (3): 479–92. doi: 10.1079/bjn19910049 . PMID   1772872.
  20. 1 2 3 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 880.
  21. 1 2 3 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 881.
  22. 1 2 3 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 882.
  23. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 883.
  24. ↑ Magers, T; Talbot, P; DiCarlantonio, G; Knoll, M; Demers, D; Tsai, I; Hoodbhoy, T (n.d.). "Cigarette smoke inhalation affects the reproductive system of female hamsters". Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.). 9 (6): 513–25. doi:10.1016/0890-6238(95)02002-0. PMID   8597648.
  25. ↑ Valentine 2012, p. 883 cites
    • Borzone, G; Liberona, L; Olmos, P; Sáez, C; Meneses, M; Reyes, T; Moreno, R; Lisboa, C (September 2007). "Rat and hamster species differences in susceptibility to elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema relate to differences in elastase inhibitory capacity". American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 293 (3): R1342–9. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00343.2007. hdl: 10533/178410 . PMID   17634200. S2CID   30414027.
    • Hayes, JA; Christensen, TG; Snider, GL (October 1977). "The hamster as a model of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in man". Laboratory Animal Science. 27 (5 Pt 2): 762–70. PMID   592728.
    • Snider, GL; Sherter, CB (October 1977). "A one-year study of the evolution of elastase-induced emphysema in hamsters". Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental and Exercise Physiology. 43 (4): 721–9. doi:10.1152/jappl.1977.43.4.721. PMID   908690.
  26. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 884.
  27. ↑ Lazo, JS; Hoyt, DG; Sebti, SM; Pitt, BR (1990). "Bleomycin: a pharmacologic tool in the study of the pathogenesis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis". Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 47 (3): 347–58. doi:10.1016/0163-7258(90)90061-6. PMID   1705351.
  28. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 885.
  29. 1 2 Valentine 2012, p. 885 cites
    • Davis, MJ; Gore, RW (January 1985). "A new preparation for microcirculatory studies of the hamster cheek pouch". The American Journal of Physiology. 248 (1 Pt 2): H143–6. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.1985.248.1.H143. PMID   3881981.
    • Kerger, H; Torres Filho, IP; Rivas, M; Winslow, RM; Intaglietta, M (February 1995). "Systemic and subcutaneous microvascular oxygen tension in conscious Syrian golden hamsters". The American Journal of Physiology. 268 (2 Pt 2): H802–10. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.1995.268.2.H802. PMID   7864208.
    • Klitzman, B; Popel, AS; Duling, BR (January 1983). "Oxygen transport in resting and contracting hamster cremaster muscles: experimental and theoretical microvascular studies". Microvascular Research. 25 (1): 108–31. doi:10.1016/0026-2862(83)90047-x. PMID   6835096.
    • Svensjö, E (December 1990). "The hamster cheek pouch as a model in microcirculation research". The European Respiratory Journal. Supplement. 12: 595s–600s, discussion 600s–601s. PMID   2076153.
  30. 1 2 Davis, MJ; Gore, RW (January 1985). "A new preparation for microcirculatory studies of the hamster cheek pouch". The American Journal of Physiology. 248 (1 Pt 2): H143–6. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.1985.248.1.H143. PMID   3881981.
  31. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, pp. 886–7.
  32. ↑ Persson, NH; Erlansson, M; Svensjö, E; Takolander, R; Bergqvist, D (1985). "The hamster cheek pouch – an experimental model to study postischemic macromolecular permeability". International Journal of Microcirculation, Clinical and Experimental. 4 (3): 257–63. PMID   2415477.
  33. ↑ Bertuglia, S; Marchiafava, PL; Colantuoni, A (June 1996). "Melatonin prevents ischemia reperfusion injury in hamster cheek pouch microcirculation". Cardiovascular Research. 31 (6): 947–52. doi:10.1016/0008-6363(96)00030-2. PMID   8759251.
  34. ↑ Nigro, V.; Okazaki, Y; Belsito, A; Piluso, G; Matsuda, Y; Politano, L; Nigro, G; Ventura, C; et al. (1997). "Identification of the Syrian hamster cardiomyopathy gene". Human Molecular Genetics. 6 (4): 601–607. doi: 10.1093/hmg/6.4.601 . PMID   9097966.
  35. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 887.
  36. ↑ Hooper, JW; Larsen, T; Custer, DM; Schmaljohn, CS (10 October 2001). "A lethal disease model for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome". Virology. 289 (1): 6–14. doi: 10.1006/viro.2001.1133 . PMID   11601912.
  37. ↑ McElroy, AK; Smith, JM; Hooper, JW; Schmaljohn, CS (15 August 2004). "Andes virus M genome segment is not sufficient to confer the virulence associated with Andes virus in Syrian hamsters". Virology. 326 (1): 130–9. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2004.05.018 . PMID   15262501.
  38. ↑ Milazzo, ML; Eyzaguirre, EJ; Molina, CP; Fulhorst, CF (15 November 2002). "Maporal viral infection in the Syrian golden hamster: a model of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 186 (10): 1390–5. doi: 10.1086/344735 . PMID   12404153.
  39. ↑ Eyzaguirre, EJ; Milazzo, ML; Koster, FT; Fulhorst, CF (April 2008). "Choclo virus infection in the Syrian golden hamster". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 78 (4): 669–74. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2008.78.669. PMC   2689364 . PMID   18385367.
  40. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 888.
  41. ↑ Roberts, A; Vogel, L; Guarner, J; Hayes, N; Murphy, B; Zaki, S; Subbarao, K (January 2005). "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection of golden Syrian hamsters". Journal of Virology. 79 (1): 503–11. doi:10.1128/jvi.79.1.503-511.2005. PMC   538722 . PMID   15596843.
  42. ↑ Schaecher, SR; Stabenow, J; Oberle, C; Schriewer, J; Buller, RM; Sagartz, JE; Pekosz, A (25 October 2008). "An immunosuppressed Syrian golden hamster model for SARS-CoV infection". Virology. 380 (2): 312–21. doi:10.1016/j.virol.2008.07.026. PMC   3722600 . PMID   18760437.
  43. ↑ Silva, Éverton F.; Santos, Cleiton S.; Athanazio, Daniel A.; Seyffert, Núbia; Seixas, Fabiana K.; Cerqueira, Gustavo M.; Fagundes, Michel Q.; Brod, Claudiomar S.; Reis, Mitermayer G.; Dellagostin, Odir A.; Ko, Albert I. (2008). "Characterization of virulence of Leptospira isolates in a hamster model". Vaccine. 26 (31): 3892–3896. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.04.085. ISSN   0264-410X. PMC   2519131 . PMID   18547690.
  44. ↑ Moon, JE; Rivard, RG; Griffith, ME; Ressner, RA; McCall, S; Reitstetter, RE; Hospenthal, DR; Murray, CK (January 2007). "Effect of timing and duration of azithromycin therapy of leptospirosis in a hamster model". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 59 (1): 148–51. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkl453 . PMID   17110394.
  45. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, pp. 888–890.
  46. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, pp. 891–894.
  47. ↑ Prusiner, SB; Cochran, SP; Groth, DF; Downey, DE; Bowman, KA; Martinez, HM (April 1982). "Measurement of the scrapie agent using an incubation time interval assay". Annals of Neurology. 11 (4): 353–8. doi:10.1002/ana.410110406. PMID   6808890. S2CID   28998012.
  48. ↑ Chan JF, Zhang AJ, Yuan S, et al. (March 2020). "Simulation of the clinical and pathological manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in golden Syrian hamster model: implications for disease pathogenesis and transmissibility". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 71 (9): 2428–2446. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa325. ISSN   1058-4838. PMC   7184405 . PMID   32215622.
  49. 1 2 3 4 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 895.
  50. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 896 cites
  51. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 896 cites
  52. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, p. 896.
  53. ↑ Valentine et al. 2012, pp. 897–898.
  54. 1 2 Valentine et al. 2012, p. 897 cites
  55. 1 2 Valentine 2012, p. 897 cites
  56. ↑ Alcohol: an ancient medicine New York Times Nathalie Angier 11 September 2007
  57. ↑ Ralph, M.R., et al., Transplanted Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Determines Circadian Period. Science, 1990. 247(4945): pp. 975–978.
  58. ↑ Reebs, S. G.; St-Onge, P (2005). "Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters". Laboratory Animals. 39 (4): 442–451. doi:10.1258/002367705774286493. PMID   16197712. S2CID   21311908.
  59. ↑ Mrosovsky, N.; Salmon, P.A.; Vrang, N. (1998). "Revolutionary science: an improved running wheel for hamsters". Chronobiology International. 15 (2): 147–158. doi:10.3109/07420529808998679. PMID   9562919.
  60. ↑ Lanteigne, M.; Reebs, SG (2006). "Preference for bedding material in Syrian hamsters". Laboratory Animals. 40 (4): 410–418. doi:10.1258/002367706778476424. PMID   17018212. S2CID   15374287.
  61. ↑ Veillette, M.; Reebs, S.G. (2010). "Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 125 (3–4): 189–194. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2010.04.001.
  62. ↑ Veillette, M.; Reebs, S.G. (2011). "Shelter choice by Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the laboratory". Animal Welfare. 20 (4): 603–611. doi:10.1017/S0962728600003249. S2CID   80236560.

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Campbell's dwarf hamster is a species of hamster in the genus Phodopus. It was given its common name by Oldfield Thomas in honor of Charles William Campbell, who collected the first specimen in Mongolia on July 1, 1902. It is distinguished from the closely related Djungarian hamster as it has smaller ears and no dark fur on its crown. Campbell's dwarf hamster typically has a narrow dorsal stripe compared to the Djungarian hamster and brown or gray fur on the stomach. This hamster may be raised in captivity and kept as a small pet.

<i>Murine respirovirus</i> Sendai virus, virus of rodents

Murine respirovirus, formerly Sendai virus (SeV) and previously also known as murine parainfluenza virus type 1 or hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ), is an enveloped, 150-200 nm–diameter, negative sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae. It typically infects rodents and it is not pathogenic for humans or domestic animals.

Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV) is a member of the genus Orthohantavirus of rodent-borne viruses, and is one of the four hantaviruses that are known to cause Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It is an Old World hantavirus; a negative sense, single-stranded, tri-segmented RNA virus.

<i>Andes orthohantavirus</i> Species of virus

Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV), a species of Orthohantavirus, is a major causative agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in South America. It is named for the Andes mountains of Chile and Argentina, where it was first discovered. Originating in the reservoir of rodents, Andes orthohantavirus is easily transmitted to humans who come into contact with infected rodents or their fecal droppings. However, infected rodents do not appear ill, so there is no readily apparent indicator to determine whether the rodent is infected or not. Additionally, Andes orthohantavirus, specifically, is the only hantavirus that can be spread by human to human contact via bodily fluids or long-term contact from one infected individual to a healthy person.

A transmissible cancer is a cancer cell or cluster of cancer cells that can be transferred between individuals without the involvement of an infectious agent, such as an oncovirus. The evolution of transmissible cancer has occurred naturally in other animal species, but human cancer transmission is rare. This transfer is typically between members of the same species or closely related species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal testing on rodents</span> Overview article

Rodents are commonly used in animal testing, particularly mice and rats, but also guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and others. Mice are the most commonly used vertebrate species, due to their availability, size, low cost, ease of handling, and fast reproduction rate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free fatty acid receptor 2</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2), also known as G-protein coupled receptor 43 (GPR43), is a rhodopsin-like G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) encoded by the FFAR2 gene. In humans, the FFAR2 gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 19 at position 13.12 (19q13.12).

A humanized mouse is a genetically modified mouse that has functioning human genes, cells, tissues and/or organs. Humanized mice are commonly used as small animal models in biological and medical research for human therapeutics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marburg virus</span> Species of filamentous virus responsible for hemorrhagic fever

Marburg virus (MARV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Filoviridae family of viruses and a member of the species Marburg marburgvirus, genus Marburgvirus. It causes Marburg virus disease in primates, a form of viral hemorrhagic fever. The World Health Organization (WHO) rates it as a Risk Group 4 Pathogen. In the United States, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ranks it as a Category A Priority Pathogen and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists it as a Category A Bioterrorism Agent. It is also listed as a biological agent for export control by the Australia Group.

Choclo orthohantavirus (CHOV) is a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA zoonotic New World hantavirus. It was first isolated in 1999 in western Panama. The finding marked the first time Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) was found in Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Favipiravir</span> Experimental antiviral drug with potential activity against RNA viruses

Favipiravir, sold under the brand name Avigan among others, is an antiviral medication used to treat influenza in Japan. It is also being studied to treat a number of other viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Like the experimental antiviral drugs T-1105 and T-1106, it is a pyrazinecarboxamide derivative.

Nova virus is a single-stranded, negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus with a trisegmented genome. It belongs to one of the most divergent lineages of the hantavirus group, which consists of zoonotic viruses belonging to the family Bunyaviridae. As of now, no human cases of infection have been reported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galidesivir</span> Antiviral drug

Galidesivir is an antiviral drug, an adenosine analog. It was developed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals with funding from NIAID, originally intended as a treatment for hepatitis C, but subsequently developed as a potential treatment for deadly filovirus infections such as Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease, as well as Zika virus. Currently, galidesivir is under phase 1 human trial in Brazil for coronavirus.

Janet S Butel is the Chairman and Distinguished Service Professor in the molecular virology and microbiology department at Baylor College of Medicine. Her area of expertise is on polyomavirus pathogenesis of infections and disease. She has more than 120 publications on PubMed. She also has 6 publications in Nature, which is considered one of the most prestigious science journals. She is a member of 9 different organizations and has 13 honors and awards.

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