Microbial contaminations of laboratory mice and rats in Taiwan from 2004 to 2007.
Limited data are available on the pathogen status of contemporary rodent colonies in Taiwan. Here we summarized the rodent pathogen diagnostic records of the Taiwan National Laboratory Animal Center during a 4-y period that representing approximately 10% of the rodent colonies in Taiwan. Demand for pathogen diagnostic service increased continuously from 2004 to 2007, with a 20% increase each year. In 2007, more than 20% of the mouse colonies were positive for mouse parvovirus, mouse hepatitis virus, Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus, and Mycoplasma pulmonis, with fewer colonies diagnosed as having infections of pneumonia virus of mice, mouse adenovirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and reovirus. Almost 40% of tested rat colonies were positive for Mycoplasma pulmonis and rat parvovirus, with fewer colonies containing Kilham rat virus, sialodacryoadenitis virus, pneumonia virus of mice, Sendai virus, and Syphacia spp. These data provide a sound overall picture of the health status of mouse and rat colonies in Taiwan.
Liang
Chung-Tiang
CT
National Laboratory Animal Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Nan-Kang, Taipei, Taiwan; Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shih
Amy
A
Chang
Yu-Hsiu
YH
Liu
Chiung-Wen
CW
Lee
Ya-Tien
YT
Hsieh
Wei-Chun
WC
Huang
Yuan-Ling
YL
Huang
Wan-Tsang
WT
Kuang
Chih-Hui
CH
Lee
Kan-Hung
KH
Zhuo
Yi-Xing
YX
Ho
Sheng-Yu
SY
Liao
Shiow-Ling
SL
Chiu
Yi-Ying
YY
Hsu
Chieh-Ning
CN
Liang
San-Chi
SC
Yu
Chun-Keung
CK
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology; D006799:Housing, Animal; D051379:Mice; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018186:Pneumovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology