SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.79 issue2 author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Journal of the South African Veterinary Association

On-line version ISSN 2224-9435
Print version ISSN 1019-9128

J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc. vol.79 n.2 Pretoria  2008

 

REVIEW ARTICLE

 

Care, husbandry and diseases of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

 

 

R G Cooper

Division of Physiology, Birmingham City University 704 Baker Building, Franchise Street, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2SU, UK. E-mail: rgcooperuk@yahoo.com

 

 


ABSTRACT

The African giant rat lives up to 14 years in captivity, reaching maximum body weights of approximately 2.80 kg in bucks and 1.39 kg in does. In Britain, the African giant rat is increasingly becoming a popular exotic pet. A survey was conducted on 41 licensed pet shops in the UK. The range of ages of giant rat presented for sale, single price per rat, paired prices (buck and doe) and transport costs were 4-12 weeks, £320-£370, £352.50-400.00 including VAT, and £10-37.50, respectively. Ivermectin injected at 200-400 µg kg subcutaneously once a week for 3 weeks will eliminate ectoparasites (and many endoparasites). Nematode infections can also be treated with fenbendazole or piperazine. Bladder threadworms can be treated with fenbendazole, protozoa with metronidazole (not in gravid does) and cestodes with praziquantel. Treatment of leptospirosis with doxycycline administered 4.29-5.36 mg once a week is useful prophylactically, although for insurance of effectiveness, 10 mg/kg for 5 days is recommended. An identical dosage is recommended for the treatment of rickettsia. African trypanosomosis infection, following diagnosis of parasites in a blood smear, can be treated with a variety of antiprotozoal drugs like diminazene diaceturate at 3.5 mg/kg for 5 days. Leishmaniasis is treated at the same dose. Staphylococcosis is treated with amoxycillian trihydrate at 5 mg/kg 3 times a day for 7 days. Helminthosis is treated with broad-spectrum deworming solution. Coccidiosis is treated with cotrimoxazole at 100 mg/kg daily for 3 days. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are administered to combat secondary bacterial infection after viral invasion.

Keywords: African giant rat, care, Cricetomys gambianus, disease, husbandry


 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

REFERENCES

1. Adegoke G O, Ojo M O, Adetosoye A I 1985 Serological characteristics of coagulase-positive staphylococci isolated from man and animals. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 58: 359-362        [ Links ]

2. Ajayi S 1977 Field observations on the African giant rat Cricetomys gambianus in southern Nigeria. East African Wildlife Journal 15: 191-198        [ Links ]

3. Ajayi S S, Tewe O O 1977 Performance of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse) on commercial rations and varying dietary protein levels. Laboratory Animals 12: 109-112        [ Links ]

4. Baker H J, Lindsey J R, Weisbroth S H 1979 Housing to control research variables. In: Baker H J, Lindsey R J, Weisbroth S H (eds) The laboratory rat. Biology and diseases Vol. 1. Academic Press, New York: 169-192        [ Links ]

5. Björnsson M J, Velschow S, Stoltze K, Havemose-Poulsen A, Schou S, Holmstrup P 2003 The influence of diet consistence, drinking water and bedding on periodontal disease in Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Periodontal Research 38: 543-550        [ Links ]

6. Broderson J R, Lindsey J R, Crawford J E 1976 The role of environmental ammonia in respiratory mycoplasmosis of rats. American Journal of Pathology 85: 115-130        [ Links ]

7. Burn C C, Peters A, Day M J, Mason G J 2006 Long-term effects of cage-cleaning frequency and bedding type on laboratory rat health, welfare, and handleability: a cross-laboratory study. Laboratory Animals 40: 353-370        [ Links ]

8. Canadian Council on Animal Care 1980 Guide to the care and use of experimental animals Vol. 1. Canadian Council on Animal Care, Ottawa, Ontario        [ Links ]

9. Cooper R G 2000 Giant rats in Zimbabwe. Rat & Mouse Gazette 6: 26        [ Links ]

10. Cooper R G 2006 The possibility of naturalisation of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse, 1840) in the Caribbean. LivingWorld, The Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club: 54-55        [ Links ]

11. Cooper R G 2008 Animal welfare. In: Cooper J E, Cooper M E Introduction to veterinary and comparative forensic medicine. Blackwell Publishing, London: 81        [ Links ]

12. Cooper R G, Erlwanger K H 2007 Hyper-zincaemia in a pet African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse, 1840). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 78: 163-165        [ Links ]

13. Coryndon S C, Gentry A W, Harris J M, Hooijer D A, Maglio V J, Howell F C 1972 Mammalian remains from the Isimila pre-historic site, Tanzania. Nature 237: 292        [ Links ]

14. Diouf M, Durette-Desset M C 2002 Two new species of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda, Trichostrongylina) parasites of Cricetomys gambianus and Arvicanthis niloticus (Muridae) from Senegal. Parassitologia 44: 97-101        [ Links ]

15. Ezeifeka G O, Umoh J U, Ezeokoli C D, Ezealor A U 1987 Prevalence of Ife virus infection in wild rodents and birds from Zaria, Nigeria. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 23: 663-665        [ Links ]

16. Halcrow J G 1958 The giant rat of East Africa. Nature 181: 649-650        [ Links ]

17. Herder S, Simo G, Nkinin S, Njiokou F 2002 Identification of trypanosomes in wild animals from southern Cameroon using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Parasite 9: 345-349        [ Links ]

18. Hill W A, Randolph M M, Lokey S J, Hayes E, Boyd K L, Mandrell T D 2006 Efficacy and safety of topical selamectin to eradicate pinworm (Syphacia spp.) infections in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and mice (Mus musculus). Journal of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science 45: 23-26        [ Links ]

19. Huerkamp M J 1993 Ivermectin eradication of pinworms from rats kept in ventilated cages. Laboratory Animal Science 43: 86-90        [ Links ]

20. Hutin Y J, Williams R J, Malfait P, Pebody R, Loparev V N, Ropp S L, Rodriguez M, Knight J C, Tshioko F K, Khan A S, Szczeniowski M V, Esposito J J 2001 Out-break of human monkeypox, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996 to 1997. Emerging Infectious Diseases 7: 434-438        [ Links ]

21. Hutson C L, Lee K N, Abel J, Carroll D S, Montgomery J M, Olson V A, Li Y, Davidson W, Hughes C, Dillon M, Spurlock P, Kazmierczak J J, Austin C, Miser L, Sorhage F E, Howell J, Davis J P, Reynolds M G, Braden Z, Karem K L, Damon I K, Regnery R L 2007 Monkeypox zoonotic associations: insights from laboratory evaluation of animals associated with the multi-state US outbreak. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 76: 757-768        [ Links ]

22. Ibrahim M A, Ogunsusi R A, Nwude N, Aliu Y 1984 Helminths of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse) in Zaria, Nigeria. Revue d'Élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux 37: 304-307        [ Links ]

23. Johnson R N, Ngumbi P M, Mwanyumba J P Roberts C R 1993 Host feeding preference of Phlebotomus guggisbergi, a vector of Leishmania tropica in Kenya. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 7: 216-218        [ Links ]

24. Julvez J, Michault A, Kerdelhue C 1997 (Serological study of rickettsia infections in Niamey, Niger). (Article in French). Médécine Tropicale: Revue du Corps de Santé Colonial 57: 153-156        [ Links ]

25. Lacasse C, Travis E, Gamble K C, Craig T 2005 Cestode cysts in two African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 36: 95-99        [ Links ]

26. Machang'u R S, Mgode G F, Assenga J, Mhamphi G, Weetjens B, Cox C, Verhagen R, Sondij S, Goris M G, Hartskeerl R A 2004 Serological and molecular characterization of leptospira serovar Kenya from captive African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) from Morogoro Tanzania. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology 41: 117-121        [ Links ]

27. Omilabu S A, Fagbami A H, Olaleye O D 1989 Susceptibility of laboratory and domestic animals to experimental infection with Potiskum virus. Microbios 60: 53-58        [ Links ]

28. Peace T A, Singer A W, Niemuth N A, Shaw M E 2001 Effects of caging type and animal source on the development of foot lesions in Sprague Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40: 17-21        [ Links ]

29. Pereira J, Möller V M, Dallegrave E, Coelho R, Langeloh A 2003 Effect of Ivermectin (Ivomec 1 % injection) on pregnant female Wistar rats. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science 40: 328-333        [ Links ]

30 Peterson A T, Papes M, Reynolds M G, Perry N D, Hanson B, Regnery R L, Hutson C L, Muizniek B, Damon I K, Carroll D S 2006 Native-range ecology and invasive potential of Cricetomys in North America. Journal of Mammalogy 87: 427-432        [ Links ]

31. Raynor T H, Steinhagen W H, HammTEJr 1983 Differences in the microenvironment of a polycarbonate caging system: bedding vs raised wire floors. Laboratory Animals 17: 85-89        [ Links ]

32. Sanchez D J, Gomez M, Llobet J M, Corbella J, Domingo J L 1997 Effects of aluminium on the mineral metabolism of rats in relation to age. Pharmacology and Toxicology 80: 11-17        [ Links ]

33. Schwartz P J, Grote S K, Stephans K L, Adler E M 2000 Zinc elevates neuropeptide Y levels in rat pheochromocytoma cells by a mechanism independent of L-channel mediated inhibition of release. Brain Research 877: 12-22        [ Links ]

34. Tönissaar M, Herm L, Eller M, Köiv K, Rinken A, Harro J 2008 Rats with high or low sociability are differently affected by chronic variable stress. Neuroscience 152: 867-876        [ Links ]

35. Vassiliades G 1966 A new coccidium, Eimeria moreli n. sp. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) of the Gambia rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences. Série D: Sciences Naturelles 262: 2473-2475 (In French, with English summary)        [ Links ]

 

 

Received: October 2007
Accepted: April 2008

 

 

Cooper R G Care, husbandry and diseases of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (2008) 79(2): 62-66 (En.). Division of Physiology, Birmingham City University, 704 Baker Building, Franchise Street, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2SU, UK.

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License