INTRODUCTION

Gerbils belong to the family Muridae, subfamily Gerbil- linae, which contains approximately 110 species native to Africa and Asia. The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones ungui- culatus) is indigenous to Mongolia, southern Siberia, and northern China.

It is the most common laboratory gerbil, and is commercially available as such. Like other laboratory rodents, the pet trade has adopted these animals as well. All laboratory Mongolian gerbils are derived from 20 pairs trapped in eastern Mongolia in 1935, which were taken to Japan's Kitasato Institute, from which a subcolony was established at the Central Laboratories for Experimental Animals in Tokyo. Eleven pairs from the Tokyo subcolony were imported into the United States in 1954, and subcolonies from that stock have been used to establish other breeding stocks in the United States and Europe. Gerbils are indigenous to desert climates, live in social groups based upon a bonded pair, and live in simple burrows. The Mongolian gerbil is also known as the Clawed Jird (the term jird is derived from an unrelated critter, the jerboa). Gerbils are used in research because they are highly susceptible to cerebral infarction following unilateral carotid ligation, their predisposition to epilepsy (with inbred seizuresensitive and seizure-resistant lines), and other uses. Gerbils are susceptible to a wide variety of experimental infectious diseases and infestations with parasites of other species. A few other species of gerbils are used for research purposes, but most of the information available on pathology of gerbils relates to M. unguiculatus, as does this chapter. Most commercially available gerbils are outbred, although inbred strains exist.

Gerbils are relatively docile and easily handled. Their means of locomotion is saltatorial (hopping). Gerbils form monogamous pairs by 10-12 weeks of age and will stay together for life.

In the absence of the opposite sex, isosexual pairs will bond. Females have a postpartum estrus, and if bred at this time, their pregnancy may be prolonged (from 25 up to 42 days) due to delayed implantation. Males contribute to rearing of pups. They tolerate each other very well if grouped before maturity, but mixing unfamiliar adult gerbils will usually provoke fighting, with death of the weaker animal. Separation of bonded animals for a period of time will also provoke fighting when reintroduced. It is important to breed gerbils as a single pair, as multiple females will fight over a male. Being desert animals, gerbils are highly efficient at conserving water (see “Anatomy”). As a result, they excrete very little urine and their feces are very dry. Given the opportunity, they will burrow and build nests, whether or not they are actively breeding. Gerbils adapt well to a wide range of temperatures, particularly if allowed to burrow and build nests, and do best with low humidity (less than 50%). An important behavioral characteristic is “sand bathing,” which is essential for proper grooming and maintaining optimal health, particularly for prevention of “sore nose” (see “Nasal Dermatitis”). When humidity is high, their fur stands out and takes on a matted appearance. Gerbils are intermittently active day and night. Foot stomping is a common signal of startling, communication, and aggression.

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Source: Barthold Stephen W., Griffey Stephen M., Percy Dean H.. Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits. 4th Edition. — Wiley-Blackwell,2016. — 384 p.. 2016

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INTRODUCTION

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