Coliform mastitis in a golden Syrian hamster
Huerkamp, M.J.; Dillehay, D.L.
Laboratory Animal Science 40(3): 325-327
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6764 PMID: 2162994 Document Number: 355572
An 11-month-old female Sas(E):Golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) from a breeding colony of 300 animals rapidly developed multiple subcutaneous nodules in the region of the left mammary chain 10 days post partum. Eight days earlier the litter of 11 died peracutely. The hamster was killed and PM examination performed. Aerobic cultures from the mammary nodules yielded a gram-negative, lactose-fermenting organism that was identified as Escherichia coli. This is the first report of E. coli as a mammary pathogen in hamsters.