Abstract
Laboratory-controlled physiological data for the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) are scarce, despite this species being a known reservoir and vector for zoonotic viruses, including the highly pathogenic Lassa virus, as well as other arenaviruses and many species of bacteria. For this reason, M. natalensis is an important rodent for the study of host-virus interactions within laboratory settings. Herein, we provide basic blood parameters for age- and sex-distributed animals in regards to blood counts, cell phenotypes and serum chemistry of a specific-pathogen-monitored M. natalensis breeding colony, to facilitate scientific insight into this important and widespread rodent species.
Highlights
We present hematological data showing that blood cell counts of young animals do not differ from older animals, as well clinical-chemistry data showing few but significant differences between males and females for this laboratory-bred wild animal species
Since the analysis panel of the employed automatic hematology analyzer are not optimized for M. natalensis samples, lymphocyte concentrations were generally understated, while granulocytes concentrations were overstated by the automatic counter when compared to manual differential counting
This could be caused by insufficient lymphocyte lysis of the M. natalensis blood when using the standard mouse settings of the machine
Summary
Mastomys natalensis are commensal wild-living rodents of the African continent with a large host range [1,2]. Even though M. natalensis are often described as “rats”, phylogenetically, they are more closely related to mice (Mus) than Rattus [3]. Since they grow to sizes and weights greater than Mus musculus [4], the confusion with rats as a general descriptor is understandable. M. natalensis often live peri-domestically and are found inside human dwellings [6] consuming food scraps and unsecured food stores and thereby contaminate these with their excretions
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