title: Rederivation of Helicobacter hepaticus-infected Mongolian gerbils by Caesarean section and cross-fostering to rats and mice.
abstract: The Mongolian gerbil serves as an animal model for a wide range of diseases. As these animals are extensively used for the study of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis, naturally occurring infections with rodent Helicobacter species in gerbils are a possible source of interference in studies of H. pylori-associated disease. The gerbil stock at the Central Animal Facility in Hannover was persistently infected with H. hepaticus. The aim of this study was to derive Helicobacter species-free Mongolian gerbils. Therefore, germfree gerbil pups were obtained by Caesarean section and the pups were transferred to female rats and mice with recently delivered litters. In total, four Ztm:NMRI mice, four Ztm:SPRD rats and one DA/Ztm rat that originated from a specified pathogen-free area were selected to serve as foster mothers. With this approach, it was possible to obtain Helicobacter-free gerbils. Rearing by mice was more successful than by rats, as six of nine gerbils were reared by mice, but only one of 29 gerbils was reared by rats.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glage
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorsch
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hedrich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D044923:Helicobacter hepaticus; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms