HAMSTER AND GUINEA PIG HEALTH STATUS PROFILES

These profiles are designed for immunocompetent Syrian hamsters or guinea pigs, ideally greater than 2 months of age. A representative number of animals should be submitted with each accession; please contact the lab for advice regarding sample size. Additional costs may be incurred if lesions or clinical history warrants; these costs will be discussed with the customer prior to the examination. Custom examinations for other hamster and gerbil species can be designed to fit needs of the customer; please call our lab for more details.

Complete Profile
A thorough survey of all organ systems to uncover any potential pathogens or lesions. Intended for baseline or annual testing of closed barrier colonies, or comprehensive assessment of new animal acquisitions.

Includes complete necropsy; microbiology of nasopharynx and intestine; direct exams of pelage, intestinal contents and feces for parasites; complete histologic examination of target organs of disease, plus any lesioned tissues noted; and complete serologic panels on adult animals.

Basic Profile
A complete examination of key organs and tissues which would be most likely to contain evidence of primary or opportunistic pathogens. Intended for the evaluation of dedicated sentinels or scheduled sampling of breeding colonies, as well as for detection of more serious, clinical infectious diseases in frequently sampled, open animal colonies.

Includes complete necropsy; microbiology of nasopharynx and cecum; direct exams of pelage and intestinal contents; histologic examination of lung, plus any lesioned tissues noted; and clinical serologic panels on adult animals.

Colony Health Status of Other Rodent Species
As for Syrian hamsters and guinea pigs, Simonsen Labs can provide custom profiles for uncommon laboratory rodent species, such as other hamsters and gerbils, Peromyscus spp., Microtus spp., and others. These profiles are based on surveillance for common primary pathogens and indicator flora for each species. Please contact our laboratory for more information.