Spontaneous pathology of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

Between January 1985 and May 1986, 71 laboratory-bred European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) 2 -57 months of age were examined for spontaneous pathological processes. All animals were kept under standardized clean conventionel conditions and presented for examination alive but clinically ill. The prevalence of malocclusion of the incisors (39.4 %), cemento-fibrous (35 %) and odontogenic (58.7 %) dysplasia of maxillary incisors as well as purulent osteomyelitis of the jaws (42.2 %) suggests the possible use of this rodent species as an animal model for dental reserch. Apart from the head, spironucleosis, liver cysts, solid tumors amd decubital wounds were often detected (evaluation elsewhere). Mixed infection with 3 - 9 bacterial species was detected from purulent processes localized in the head, whereby so called Pasteurella pneumotropica (nomen dubium), Streptococcus or Peptostreptococcus spp. and Fusovacterum nucleatum or Fusobacterium sp. were most frequently isolated.