An Epizootic of Sendai Virus Infection in a Rat Colony

Viral Disease

“…Sendai virus was previously known as murine parainfluenza virus and can be differentiated serologically from human, porcine, and bovine parainfluenza viruses (respiroviruses). While mice are the primary targets of Sendai virus infection, there have been reports of natural outbreaks in rats (Burek et al, 1977;Makino et al, 1973). Sendai virus also is infectious for hamsters and guinea pigs (Parker et al, 1978).…”

“…Sendai virus is highly contagious and transmitted by aerosols. Rapid spread throughout rat colonies was common prior to the advent of individually ventilated caging (Burek et al, 1977;Makino et al, 1973). During an epizootic of Sendai virus in mice in the Netherlands, multifocal interstitial pneumonia was observed in rats that seroconverted to Sendai virus, but virus could not be isolated from the rat lungs (Burek et al, 1977).…”

Biology and Diseases of Rats

“…Infrequently, clinical respiratory signs occur (Makino et al, 1973). Clinical signs associated with the virus may include reduced production and litter sizes, as well as retarded growth of young within breeding colonies.…”

A Survey of <I>Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Salmonella</I> spp., <I>Bordetella bronchiseptica</I> and Sendai Virus in Guinea Pig Colonies in Japan

“…bronchiseptica has been known to be frequently isolated from not only guinea pigs but also other species of animals such as rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, monkeys and pigs [20,21]. Similarly, Sendai virus is also inf ective to mice, rats, hamsters and f errets [6,8,15]. These epizootiological features of these pathogens might be attributed to wide contamination in guinea pig colonies.…”