Clinical pathology and sample collection in the laboratory rodent.
Common laboratory rodents have always been a favorite choice as a pet. Although diagnostic clinical pathology has not been viewed as practical for the rodent patient, current advances in technology make processing of small samples possible. Cultivation of the technical skills necessary for rodent sample collection has the potential to improve the standard of rodent veterinary care. This article provides an overview of rodent sample collection techniques, hematology, clinical biochemistry, serology, and clinical pathology of other tissues and fluids for laboratory rodents. General principles of clinical pathology can be applied across species. This article emphasizes the subtleties of the different rodent species which may impact diagnostic interpretation.
Department of Animal Resources, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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McClure
D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine; D001646:Bile; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008892:Milk; D012016:Reference Values; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine; D012463:Saliva; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology