An Attempt of Eradication of Respiratory Diseases in Breeding Mice by Sanitary Improvement of Care

Abstract

An attempt was made to eradicate respiratory diseases developed in about 1, 000 mice of 19 congenic inbred strains which were maintained in a mouse breeding room. The contagious diseases with respiratory signs were found to be caused by mixed infections withMycoplasma pulmonisand Sendai virus. The eradication of the diseases was mainly made by sanitary improvement in care of the mice such as intensive disinfection, culling some diseased mice and so on, instead of destroying all colonies. As the result, mycoplasma infection decreased gradually, resulting in a complete eradication about one and half years later and remarkable increases in litter size and weaning rate of mice were obtained. Sendai virus infection failed to be eradicated.