Environmental Health Monitoring -
Use for other Rodents

Based on current scientific evidence, EHM methods are expected to be effective for a wide range of species housed similarly to mice. Several programs already use EHM in the health monitoring of their rat, gerbil, hamster, and spiny mice colonies. The following tables summarize agents that were successfully detected in these species using EDT or SFSB methods as experienced by members of the 3RsC Rodent Health Monitoring group.

We note that many more pathogens have been detected via EHM in mice which can be found in our recent presentations.

Pathogens that have been detected in Rats are listed below:

• Via EDT & SFSB: Rat polyomavirus-2, heylii, Beta strep group B, Campylobacter, Chilomastix, Entamoeba spp., Helicobacter spp. (both H. ganmani and H. rodentium), K. pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Spironucleus muris, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Tritrichomonas muris
• Via EDT: Hexamastix spp., Pneumocystis carinii
• Via SFSB: pneumotropicus, K. oxytoca, Pinworms,

A presentation by Brianne Hibl on this topic can be found here.

Pathogens that have been detected in Gerbils are listed below:

• Via SFSB: aureus, Entamoeba spp.

Pathogens that have been detected in Spiny Mice are listed below:

• Via SFSB: oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, R. heylii, Entamoeba spp.

Pathogens that have been detected in Hamsters are listed below:

• Via SFSB: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Helicobacter spp., Staphylococcus xylosis, Tritrichomonas muris, Entamoeba spp.