Behavioral differences among fourteen inbred mouse strains commonly used as disease models.

We compared the behavior of 14 inbred mouse strains and an F1 hybrid commonly used in transgenic and knockout production. These strains were 129P3/J, 129S1/SvImJ, 129S6/SvEvTac, 129T2/SvEmsJ, 129X1/SvJ (formerly 129/J, 129/Sv-p+Tyr+Kitl+/J, 129/SvEvTac, 129SvEmsJ, and 129/SvJ, respectively), A/JCrTac, BALB/cAnNTac, C3H/HeNTac, C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NTac, DBA/2NTac, FVB/NTac, NOD/MrkTac, SJL/JCrNTac, and the hybrid B6129S6F1Tac. Performance in three behavioral tests (rotorod, open-field activity-habituation, and contextual and cued fear conditioning) was determined.

Genetic and behavioral differences among five inbred mouse strains commonly used in the production of transgenic and knockout mice.

Five strains of mice commonly used in transgenic and knockout production were compared with regard to genetic background and behavior. These strains were: C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NTac, 129P3/J (formerly 129/J), 129S6/SvEvTac (formerly 129/SvEvTac) and FVB/NTac. Genotypes for 342 microsatellite markers and performance in three behavioral tests (rotorod, open field activity and habituation, and contextual and cued fear conditioning) were determined.

Exclusion of mouse hepatitis virus from a filtered, plastic rodent shipping container during an in transit field challenge.

Although leading suppliers of laboratory mice and rats continue to use filtered shipping boxes to protect their animals from contamination during transport to the end user, no information had been available in the literature to demonstrate that any of these boxes actually accomplish this task. To test this hypothesis, 12 plastic shipping boxes with filters and tight-fitting lids and six cardboard shipping boxes without filters (controls) were each stocked with adult, adventitious disease-free mice. All 18 shipping boxes were transported to a facility housing a breeding colony of mice enzootically infected with four murine viruses, including mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), and were placed inside the colony for 15 h.

Latent Pneumocystis carinii infection in commercial rat colonies: comparison of inductive immunosuppressants plus histopathology, PCR, and serology as detection methods.

Histopathologic evaluation combined with a period of immunosuppression has been the standard procedure for detection of Pneumocystis carinii in commercial rat colonies. Variation in induction regimens and in the sensitivity of detection methods may result in underreporting of the presence of P. carinii in breeding colonies or delay its detection.