Conjunctivitis in the nude rat (rnu/rnu)

Nude rats are susceptible to similar eye problems to those suffered by nude mice, notably conjunctivitis leading to periorbital abscesses. Pasteurella pneumotropica has been isolated from the conjunctiva. The condition can be alleviated by washing the eyes of mildly affected rats with warm water. More severe cases respond to treatment with ampicillin. Conjunctivitis has not appeared in a germ-free colony of nude rats.