Use of the Golden Syrian Hamster in the Study of Scrapie Virus

Abstract

Various considerations may guide the choice of an animal species in which to study scrapie virus infection. The use of larger animals, for example, may be required for ease of surgical manipulation, or the examination of small organs or body fluids such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Characteristics of immunologic development, or biologic closeness to man, also may be important determinants in the choice of animal. When such considerations are not relevant, however, economy can be the major criterion, and of the many animal species now known to be susceptible to experimental infection by scrapie virus, the golden Syrian hamster offers the greatest economies of space, time, and money. This is obviously true in comparison to studies in primates, sheep and goats, mink, ferrets, cats, or guinea pigs. It is less obvious that the hamster would show an overall economy greater than is possible in the mouse.