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Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice
Anna S Ratuski1, Jacob H Theil2, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire3
1Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. aratuski@stanford.edu.
Scientific Reports
|March 3, 2025
Summary
Barbering in laboratory mice, a behavior causing hair loss, is influenced by persistent factors like sex and breeding status, alongside new ones such as genetics and housing. Understanding these risk factors can improve mouse welfare and research integrity.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Laboratory animal science
- Veterinary medicine
Background:
- Barbering in mice is a common abnormal behavior impacting animal welfare and research quality.
- It serves as a model for human trichotillomania, but its causes and prevention remain poorly understood.
- Significant changes in mouse husbandry over the past 20 years necessitate an updated analysis of risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an updated analysis of risk factors associated with barbering in laboratory mice.
- To identify biological, environmental, and husbandry factors contributing to barbering prevalence.
- To inform husbandry changes aimed at reducing barbering behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of point prevalence of hair loss in 2544 cages (7007 mice) over one year.
- Evaluation of biological, environmental, and husbandry factors as potential stressors.
- Statistical analysis to determine the significance of various risk factors.
Main Results:
- Persistent risk factors for barbering include sex and breeding status.
- Prevalence varied significantly based on genetic background, housing system, and time of year.
- A spatial "hotspot" effect indicated clustering of barbering behavior.
Conclusions:
- Certain barbering risk factors remain consistent despite changes in mouse husbandry practices.
- Genetic background, housing, and seasonality are newly identified factors influencing barbering.
- Findings provide crucial insights for improving husbandry protocols to mitigate barbering in laboratory mice.
