Nasal dermatitis in the Mongolian gerbil

The prevalence of nasal dermatitis in two breeding colonies of Mongolian gerbils was determined; 56 of 302 (18.5%) were affected in Colony A, and 2 of 54 (3.7%) were affected in Colony B. The presence of nasal lesions did not correlate with sex, tail barbering, or epilepsy. There was a positive correlation between presence of nasal lesions and forepaw dermatitis, periocular alopecia, and protrusion of the nictitating membrane. Lesions were most common in the superior labial and lateral nasal regions. Histopathologic changes in the nasal area included acanthosis, mild hyperkeratosis, and inflammation of the dermis. Isolates of beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus of several phage types were cultured from the nasal area of affected and nonaffected animals in both colonies. Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolates were associated with the development of early nasal lesions.