Rodent Health Conditions
Rodent Fun Facts
Rodent Health 2
Cagewash
Large Animals and Aquatics
100
During cage changes you notice this mouse that is dragging its hind legs across the cage and cannot seem to use them to walk. What is the name of this condition?
What is: paralysis (hind limb)?
100
What is the natural activity pattern of mice, which would explain why they are less active during daytime cage checks?
What is: nocturnal?
100
What health check category should be tagged?
What is: Regular HC?
100
You're working in clean cage wash today and you just took lunch. Before you went out for lunch, you changed out of the scrub suit you wore earlier. Can you wear the same scrub suit back to clean cage wash?
What is: Yes.
100
This common research fish shares its name with an african horse. What is it?
Zebrafish
200
While doing cage changes, you notice this mouse with its teeth visibly sticking out of its mouth and it cannot seem to close them. It has also lost noticeable weight. What is the name of the condition affecting this mouse?
What is: malocclusion?
200
Mice with which fur color are more likely to develop ulcerative dermatitis?
What is: Black fur?
200
During your cage change, you notice this mouse is laying on its side and breathing very hard. It does not get up when you move it over. What should you categorize this health check as?
What is: a Critical Health Check?
200
You're checking the mousetrap in cagewash and you find a live mouse inside. What should be done with this mouse?
What is: Euthanized immediately?
200
What type of animal is housed in this caging?
Non-human primates (NHP);
300
While doing cage changes, you notice a mouse with a red, fleshy mass protruding from underneath its tail that was not there during the last cage change. What is the name of this condition?
What is: rectal prolapse?
300
What sense is strongest in mice: sight, smell, or hearing?
Smell!
Mice have poor eyesight (and some strains are blind). Smell is the most important way mice recognize each other - which can matter if pups smell different!
300
What health check category should be tagged?
What is: Emergency Health Check?
300
Name two reasons why sending live animals to cagewash is an unacceptable outcome.
What is: animals may be subject to a painful death, mouse may not be able to be returned to researcher and lead to loss of valuable research data?
300
Fill in the blank: Giving animals toys and foraging devices is a form of ________ which helps to promote their mental wellbeing.
Enrichment
400
There are 3 mouse pups scattered in a cage and the mother is lethargic. You note blood in the cage and part of a pup sticking out of the vaginal canal. What emergency is this mother most likely experiencing?
What is a dystocia?
(Equivalent answer: difficult birth/stuck pup)
400
What is the average gestation period of the laboratory mouse?
What is: 19-21 days?
400
Of the 3 types of rodent rooms below, which room should be entered FIRST?
-Barrier
-Enhanced Barrier
-Non-Barrier
What is: Enhanced Barrier?
400
You find a mouse in a stack of cages on a soiled bulk truck in dirty cage wash. What information needs to be reported to management?
What is: The source room number and name of the ACT who changed the cages on the bulk truck?
400
This type of virus causes cold sores and is also the reason why NHP bite/scratch kits are in every cagewash area that cleans primate areas.
Herpes Virus
Rhesus macaques can carry Herpes B virus, which can be fatal to humans!
500
During cage checks you notice most pups in a litter have a visible marking on their belly indicating they have recently nursed, but one pup does not. What is the name for this marking?
What is a milk band (spot)?
500
What is the typical daily food intake for an adult mouse?
What is 3-5g/day?
500
While performing rodent cage checks, you notice a mouse with a large tumor on its left rear leg. The tumor is ulcerated and actively bleeding. What category of health check should be tagged?
What is: Emergency Health Check
500
You're about to start the first equipment run of the day through the rack washer. Name two places this indicator should be placed.
What is: inner surface of a primary enclosure and/or caging system; or on the inner surface of an upright post of a shelf rack, transport cart, dolly, or other types of equipment?
500
Imagine this is at work. What is missing in this picture? 
Gloves!