The agouti (Dasyprocta sp) in biomedical research and captivity

Agoutis (Dasyprocta sp) are hystricomorph rodents belonging to the family Dasyproctidae. Utilization of agoutis in a research program of the National Institutes of Health necessitated the development of suitable methods for feeding, housing and collecting blood. The rodents were maintained successfully in conventional dog cages and kennels, and thrived on a diet of primate diet and apples. Physical examinations and periodic blood collections were best performed while agoutis were sedated with ketamine HCl (42-83 mg/kg, intramuscularly). Satisfactory sites for blood sampling were the cephalic, saphenous and jugular veins. Hematologic and serum chemical values established for the agouti were similar to those found in other rodents. Experimentally induced and naturally occurring diseases of agoutis were reviewed.