Dietrich H M
Central Laboratory Animal Facilities, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Austria.
Lab Anim. 1989 Oct;23(4):345-52. doi: 10.1258/002367789780745953.
A management programme is described for a small colony of Obese strain (OS) chickens afflicted with spontaneous hereditary thyroiditis. Animals of this White Leghorn line are used as an animal model for Hashimoto's thyroiditis of man to study possible mechanisms of autoimmunity in general and organ-specific autoimmune diseases in particular. Due to the severe mononuclear cell infiltration of the thyroid glands, OS chickens show symptoms of hypothyroidism, including small body size, subcutaneous and abdominal fat deposits, long silky feathers, small combs and wattles, cold sensitivity, low fertility and poor hatchability. Successful breeding of this line, especially in a small population, can therefore be done only if rigid precautions are taken in aspects of animal care. The selection of breeding stock, the principal requirements for adequate housing and food, the artificial insemination procedure, and recommendations for collecting and incubating chicken eggs are reported in detail. Precautions necessary during the incubation of fertilized eggs, and fertility and hatchability are reported. During the hatching period several specific features must be considered. The important role of staff involved in a small chicken breeding unit is emphasized.
本文描述了一个针对患有自发性遗传性甲状腺炎的肥胖品系（OS）小鸡小群体的管理方案。这种白来航鸡品系的动物被用作人类桥本甲状腺炎的动物模型，以研究一般自身免疫以及特别是器官特异性自身免疫疾病的可能机制。由于甲状腺严重的单核细胞浸润，OS小鸡表现出甲状腺功能减退的症状，包括体型小、皮下和腹部脂肪沉积、长而柔软的羽毛、小鸡冠和肉垂、对寒冷敏感、繁殖力低和孵化率差。因此，只有在动物护理方面采取严格的预防措施，才能成功繁育这个品系，尤其是在小群体中。详细报告了种鸡的选择、适宜饲养环境和食物的主要要求、人工授精程序以及收集和孵化鸡蛋的建议。报告了受精卵孵化期间必需的预防措施以及繁殖力和孵化率。在孵化期，必须考虑几个特定特征。强调了小型养鸡单位工作人员的重要作用。
