Keckler M Shannon, Gallardo-Romero Nadia F, Langham Gregory L, Damon Inger K, Karem Kevin L, Carroll Darin S
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Disease, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2010 May;49(3):274-81.
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a member of the order Rodentia and the family Sciuridae. Ecologically, prairie dogs are a keystone species in prairie ecology. This species is used as an animal model for human gallbladder disease and diseases caused by infection with Clostridium difficile, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and most recently, Orthopoxvirus. Despite increasing numbers of prairie dogs used in research and kept as pets, few data are available on their baseline physiology in animal facility housing conditions. To establish baseline physiologic reference ranges, we designed a study using 18 wild-caught black-tailed prairie dogs. Telemetry data were analyzed to establish circadian rhythms for activity and temperature. In addition, hematologic and serum chemistry analyses were performed. Baseline measurements were used to establish the mean for each animal, which then were compiled and analyzed to determine the reference ranges. Here we present physiologic data on serum chemistry and hematology profiles, as well as weight, core body temperature, and daily activity patterns for black-tailed prairie dogs. These results reflect the use of multiple measurements from species- and age-matched prairie dogs and likely will be useful to ecologists, scientists interested in using this animal model in research, and veterinarians caring for pet prairie dogs.
黑尾土拨鼠（Cynomys ludovicianus）是啮齿目松鼠科的成员。在生态方面，土拨鼠是草原生态系统中的关键物种。该物种被用作人类胆囊疾病以及由艰难梭菌、鼠疫耶尔森菌、土拉弗朗西斯菌和最近的正痘病毒感染引起的疾病的动物模型。尽管用于研究和作为宠物饲养的土拨鼠数量不断增加，但关于它们在动物设施饲养条件下的基础生理学数据却很少。为了建立基础生理参考范围，我们设计了一项研究，使用了18只野生捕获的黑尾土拨鼠。对遥测数据进行分析以确定活动和温度的昼夜节律。此外，还进行了血液学和血清化学分析。基础测量用于确定每只动物的平均值，然后将这些值汇总并分析以确定参考范围。在此，我们展示了黑尾土拨鼠的血清化学、血液学特征以及体重、核心体温和日常活动模式的生理数据。这些结果反映了对物种和年龄匹配的土拨鼠进行的多项测量，可能对生态学家、有兴趣在研究中使用这种动物模型的科学家以及照顾宠物土拨鼠的兽医有用。
