Rodent

Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

This study investigated the cage size preferences of juvenile chinchillas using enclosures that allowed free choice between different dimensions. Three comparisons were tested: (1) small floor area (0.15 m2) vs. double floor area (0.30 m2) at constant height; (2) low...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Rodent

Citation: Szendrő, Z., Łapiński, S., Matics, Z. et al. 2025. Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). Animals 15(17), 2483.

Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils

The Mongolian gerbil or jird (Meriones unguiculatus) is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. They are commonly used as models for a variety of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis E virus and Giardia lamblia. At the LSTM/University of Liverpool...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Disease/Experimental Model, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Steven, A. 2025. Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 155–156.

Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice

Head fixation of rodents is a widely utilized and important technique that enables laboratories to measure brain activity during behavior, but head fixation can increase stress which affects both behavior and underlying brain activity, as well as animal welfare. It...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Nasr, A., Rettinger, G., Mansvelder, H. D. et al. 2025. Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice. PLOS ONE 20(6), e0322530.

Enrichment for stud males in MRC Ares

Sometimes within the laboratory environment mice may be housed on their own for example when being used as studs for cryopreservation. As these animals do not have a companion for enrichment it is important that these mice are provided with...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McCool, J. 2025. Enrichment for stud males in MRC Ares. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 149–150.

Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo!

Evaluating an animal’s nutritional status and overall fitness ensures its welfare. While weight is often used as a single proxy for overall fitness, it may not capture changes in muscle or fat mass on its own. This is why body...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McClenaghan, M., Galichet, C., Murphy, S. et al. 2025. Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo! Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 138–140.

A survey on the implementation of environmental health monitoring in mouse facilities in German-speaking countries

The health status of laboratory animals plays a decisive role not only for the health and welfare of the animals but also for the validity of study results. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of publications on...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mahabir, E., Schmidt, K., Kolbe, T. et al. 2025. A survey on the implementation of environmental health monitoring in mouse facilities in German-speaking countries. PLOS ONE 20(10), e0334442.

Sleep preferences in CD1 mice in a laboratory environment

This study investigates the preferences of CD1 mice in a lab environment for various sleeping enrichment options within their cages. Understanding the environmental factors that influence sleep behaviour is crucial for enhancing animal welfare in laboratory settings. We assessed two...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mackay, F., Teggart, M. 2025. Sleep preferences in CD1 mice in a laboratory environment. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 175–176.

Chew sticks, do mice really care?

There are various chewing enrichments on the market for small rodents. In this study we focused on comparing two types, T-Brick and Aspen to see which product enabled more natural chewing behaviours in several strains of mice. A rack of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Higginson, K. 2025. Chew sticks, do mice really care? Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 185–187.

Juvenile male rats form preferences based on strain when playing in groups but not in pairs

Like many young mammals, juvenile rats engage in rough-and-tumble play. Play occurs naturally both in wild and laboratory rats, making it a suitable, ethologically relevant behavior to investigate. In the laboratory, rats are typically housed and tested in dyads, despite...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ham, J. R., Jaiswal, D., Waner-Mariquito, R. et al. 2025. Juvenile male rats form preferences based on strain when playing in groups but not in pairs. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 19.

Housing in a large open cage did not affect the phenotypic traits of obese male Zucker fa/fa rats when compared to IVC-housed rats, but improved the rats’ well-being

The housing of laboratory rats in cages with dimensions according to international standards for research animals can hardly be regarded as a stimulating environment, even when fulfilling the minimum requirements for environmental enrichment. Little is known about whether changes in...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gudbrandsen, O. A. 2025. Housing in a large open cage did not affect the phenotypic traits of obese male Zucker fa/fa rats when compared to IVC-housed rats, but improved the rats’ well-being. Animals 15(18), 2687.