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Journals / Laboratuvar Hayvanları Bilimi ve Uygulamaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1

Investigation of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Inter-Species Susceptibility in Laboratory Mice, Gerbils, and Guinea Pigs

Laboratuvar Fareleri, Gerbiller ve Kobaylarda Gastrointestinal Parazitler ile Türler Arası Duyarlılığın Araştırılması

Ömer Faruk Gökcecik(İzmir/Bornova Veterinary Control Institute)0000-0002-5070-6656
Semih Görgülü(İzmir/Bornova Veterinary Control Institute)0009-0003-0778-9438
Çağatay Nuhay(İzmir/Bornova Veterinary Control Institute)0000-0002-1475-3041
Pages
24–30
Publication Date
2026-02-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The study concluded that no gastrointestinal parasitic infections were found in guinea pigs and gerbils; however, mice raised under similar husbandry and feeding conditions at the same facility exhibited a heavy parasitic burden, including some parasites relevant to human health.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, gastrointestinal parasites and the interspecies susceptibility of laboratory mice, gerbils, and guinea pigs bred for experimental purposes were investigated.
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Key Findings & Data:Within the scope of the study, a total of 335 mice from 32 cages, 140 guinea pigs from 7 cages, and 4 gerbils from 1 cage were used.
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Conclusion & Impact:The study concluded that no gastrointestinal parasitic infections were found in guinea pigs and gerbils; however, mice raised under similar husbandry and feeding conditions at the same facility exhibited a heavy parasitic burden, including some parasites relevant to human health.
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Biyogüvenlik · fare · kobay

Abstract

In this study, gastrointestinal parasites and the interspecies susceptibility of laboratory mice, gerbils, and guinea pigs bred for experimental purposes were investigated. Within the scope of the study, a total of 335 mice from 32 cages, 140 guinea pigs from 7 cages, and 4 gerbils from 1 cage were used. Adequate amounts of fresh fecal samples were collected from each cage, and the collected samples were homogenized. Samples were processed by the flotation method and subsequently analyzed under light microscopy. As a result of the examination, no parasitic species were detected in the guinea pig and gerbil cages. However, parasitic infestation was identified in all mouse cages (100 %), with the distribution of parasites as follows: 46.9 % Eimeria spp. and Syphacia muris, 25 % Aspiculuris tetraptera and Hymenolepis nana, 15.6 % H. nana, and 12.5 % A. tetraptera. The study concluded that no gastrointestinal parasitic infections were found in guinea pigs and gerbils; however, mice raised under similar husbandry and feeding conditions at the same facility exhibited a heavy parasitic burden, including some parasites relevant to human health. The study demonstrates that guinea pigs are more resistant to helminth infections than mice and highlights the critical role of species selection in determining infection risk. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of biosecurity measures in preventing parasitic infestations in mice, which hold a significant place among laboratory animals, as well as the necessity of improving husbandry and feeding conditions and implementing routine screening practices.

Özet

Bu çalışmada, deneysel amaçlarla üretilen laboratuvar fareleri, gerbiller ve kobaylarda gastrointestinal parazitler ile türler arası duyarlılık incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında 32 kafeste 335 fare, 7 kafeste 140 kobay ve 1 kafeste 4 gerbil kullanılmıştır. Her kafesten yeterli miktarda taze dışkı örneği toplanmış, örnekler homojenize edilmiştir. Toplanan dışkılar flotasyon yöntemi ile işlenmiş ve ardından ışık mikroskobunda incelenmiştir. Yapılan incelemeler sonucunda kobay ve gerbil kafeslerinde herhangi bir parazit türüne rastlanmamıştır. Ancak, farelerin bulunduğu tüm kafeslerde (%100) paraziter enfestasyon saptanmış; parazitlerin dağılımı ise %46,9 Eimeria spp. ve Syphacia muris, %25 Aspiculuris tetraptera ve Hymenolepis nana, %15,6 H. nana ve %12,5 A. tetraptera olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada, kobay ve gerbillerde gastrointestinal paraziter enfeksiyonların bulunmadığı, ancak aynı tesiste benzer bakım ve besleme koşullarında yetiştirilen farelerde insan sağlığı açısından da önem taşıyan türleri kapsayan yoğun bir paraziter yükün bulunduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Araştırma, kobayların helmint enfeksiyonlarına karşı farelere kıyasla daha dirençli olduğunu göstermekte ve enfeksiyon riskinin belirlenmesinde tür seçiminin kritik rolüne işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca, laboratuvar hayvanları arasında önemli bir yere sahip olan farelerde paraziter enfestasyonların önlenmesinde biyogüvenlik önlemlerinin gerekliliğini vurgulamakta; bunun yanı sıra bakım ve besleme koşullarının iyileştirilmesi ile rutin tarama uygulamalarının önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Gökcecik, Ö. F., Görgülü, S., Nuhay, Ç. (2026). Investigation of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Inter-Species Susceptibility in Laboratory Mice, Gerbils, and Guinea Pigs. Laboratuvar Hayvanları Bilimi ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 24–30. https://doi.org/10.62425/jlasp.1796198

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