Key Points
- Enterocolitis is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in hamsters.
- “Wet-tail” is a non-specific clinical sign that can result from enterocolitis and resultant diarrhea in pet hamsters.
- The etiology of enterocolitis may be multifactorial in hamsters of all ages including bacteria such as Clostridium spp. and Campylobacter jejuni and parasites, particularly Hymenolepis nana, and even fungal agents.
- Many of the potential pathogens of “wet-tail” are zoonotic.
- Clinical outbreaks of diarrhea in hamsters may be precipitated by stress, including high temperatures or humidity, overcrowding, malnutrition, dietary changes, shipping, or underlying diseases, such as endoparasitism.
- Prevention and treatment of “wet’-tail”, which centers around the use of antimicrobials, husbandry practices, selective breeding, and culling, have generally proved unrewarding.
Diarrhea is the most common problem in pet hamsters. In a recent survey of two large American commercial breeding facilities, approximately 3% of shipped hamsters develop diarrhea. Diarrhea caused by enterocolitis can occur in hamsters of any age or breed and is commonly known as “wet-tail”. Clinical signs in weanlings usually include diarrhea, anorexia, ruffled hair, dehydration, weight loss, and death. The mortality rate is often highest in . . .
Pour les vétérinaires. Par les vétérinaires.
Le site Lafervet.com est conçu pour une utilisation par les vétérinaires. Il est ouvert aux vétérinaires diplômés, aux techniciens vétérinaires diplômés, aux animaliers et aux étudiants dans ces domaines.
Créer un compte pour accéder à des articles et des ressources du site.
L'inscription est gratuite.
Para Profesionales Veterinarios. Por Profesionales Veterinarios.
El sitio Lafervet.com es para uso de los profesionales veterinarios. Está abierto a los veterinarios licenciados, técnicos veterinarios licenciados, rehabilitadores licenciados y estudiantes en estos campos.
Cree una cuenta para acceder a los artículos y recursos del sitio.
La registro es gratis.
Already a LafeberVet Member?
Please Login
References
Alworth L, Simmons J, Franklin C, Fish R. Clostridial typhlitis associated with topical antibiotic therapy in a Syrian hamster. Lab Anim 43(3):304-309, 2009.
Barron HW, Richey L, Hernandez-Divers S, Ritchie B. Etiology, pathology, and control of enterocolitis in a group of hamsters. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Exotic Mammal Vet 2007. Pp. 123-126.
Chang J, Rohwer RG. Clostridium difficile infection in adult hamsters. Lab Anim Sci 41(6):548-552, 1991.
Dillehay DL, Paul KS, Boosinger TR, Fox JG. Enterocecocolitis associated withEscherichia coli and Campylobacter-like organisms in a hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) colony. Lab Anim Sc 44(1):12-15, 1994.
Donnelly TM. Disease problems of small rodents. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. 2nd ed. 2003.
Frisk DC, Wagner JE, Owens DR. Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) enteritis caused by epithelial cell-invasive Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 31(3):1232-1238, 1981.
Lesher RJ, Jeszenka EV, Swan ME. Enteritis caused by Pasteurella pneumotropica infection in hamsters. J Clin Microbiol 23(3):448, 1985.
Motzel SL, Gibson SV. Tyzzer’s disease in hamsters and gerbils from a pet store supplier. J Am Vet Med Assoc 197:1776-1778, 1990.
Patterson MM, Schrenzel MD, Feng Y, Fox JG. Gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in Syrian hamsters infected with Helicobacter aurati and two other microaerobes. Vet Pathol 37(6):589-596, 2000.
Percy DH, Barthold SW. Hamster. In: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa. Iowa State University Press; 2001.
Barron H. Enterocolitis in hamsters. February 25, 2010. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/enterocolitis-in-hamsters/