In Practice 26: 200-205 (2004)
© 2004 British Veterinary Association

Infectious respiratory disease in rodents

¹ Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

MOST of the current knowledge regarding respiratory disease in rodents is based on the management of laboratory rodents. The emphasis is on diagnosis, elimination and prevention of subclinical respiratory disease rather than treatment. In the author's experience, rats are the most frequently presented small mammals with respiratory problems, followed by guinea pigs and then chinchillas. Animal husbandry, environmental conditions and immune status all play a part in the pathogenesis. While some of the causal bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, other infections are acquired and animals remain infected for life. Therapy usually does not eliminate disease, but only alleviates the symptoms, and it is important that clients are made aware of this. This article provides an overview of common respiratory diseases in pet rodents, with particular emphasis on Mycoplasma and Bordetella species infections.

Note:

The author would like to thank colleagues for their support with the clinical cases discussed in this article and also Alice Goodman for editing the manuscript.