Norway rat

Markussen, M.D.K., Heiberg, A.C., and Eredhohn, M. et al. (2008). Differential expression of P450 genes between bromadiolone-resistant and anticoagulant-susceptible Norway rats A possible role for pharmacokinetics. Pest Management Science 64, 239-248. 

It is a hantavirus that is found worldwide. The natural reservoir is Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and the virus is shed in their urine. Infection occurs after inhalation of dust contaminated with excreta from infected rats or from aerosol of animal blood or fluids. Does not produce disease in animals. This is a biosafety level 3 agent. 

Friedmann, A.S., H. Chen, L.D. Rabuck, and B.R. Zirkin. 1998. Accumulation of dietary methylmercury in the testes of the adult brown Norway rat impaired testicular and epididymal function. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 17 867-871. 

Fouchecourt, M.O. and J.L. Riviere. 1995. Activities of cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases and antioxidant enzymes in different organs of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabiting reference and contaminated sites. Chemosphere 3L4375A386. 

Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus 8.67 Gy, LD50, 30 days postexposure 1... 

Knippels, L.M. and Penninks, A.H., Assessment of the allergic potential of food protein extracts and proteins on oral application using the brown Norway rat model, Environ. Health Perspect., 11, 233, 2003. 

Ezendam, J. et al., Toxicogenomics of subchronic hexachlorobenzene exposure in Brown Norway rats, Environ. Health. Perspect., 112, 782, 2004. 

Brown Norway rat HgCl2 AU-salts D-Penicillamine Nevirapine HCB IC-glomerulonephritis Skin pathology, dermatitis Polyclonal IgE AutoAb (Type IV-collagen, ANA, 1 anti-ACh, thyroglobulin) Systemic inflamatory response with autoimmune symptoms... 

Donker, A. J. et al., Effects of prolonged administration of D-penicillamine or captopril in various strains of rats. Brown Norway rats treated with D-penicillamine develop autoantibodies, circulating immune complexes, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 30, 142, 1984... 

Tournade, H., et al., (1990) D-penicillamine-induced autoimmunity in Brown-Norway rats. Similarities with HgC12-induced autoimmunity. J. Immunol.,144, 2985, 1990... 

Qasim, F.J., Thiru, S., and Gillespie, K.,Gold and D-penicillamine induce vasculitis and up-regulate mRNA for IL-4 in the Brown Norway rat Support for a role for Th2 cell activity. Clin. Exp. Immunol., 108,438, 1997... 

Hirsch, F. et al., Autoimmunity induced by HgC12 in Brown-Norway rats. I. Production of monoclonal antibodies. J. Immunol., 136, 3272, 1986. 

Aten, J. et al., (1988) Mercuric chloride-induced autoimmunity in the brown Norway rat. Cellular kinetics and major histocompatibility complex antigen expression. Am. J. Pathol., 133, 127, 1988... 

Szeto, C., Gillespie, K.M., and Mathieson, P.W., Low-dose mercuric chloride induces resistance in brown norway rats to further mercuric chloride by up-regulation of interferon-gamma. Scand. J. Immunol., 50, 195, 1999. 

Mathieson, P. W. et al., Immunoregulation of mercuric chloride-induced autoimmunity in Brown Norway rats A role for CD8+ T cells revealed by in vivo depletion studies. Eur. J. Immunol., 21, 2105, 1991. 

Masson, M.J., and Uetrecht, J.P., Tolerance induced by low dose D-penicillamine in the brown Norway rat model of drug-induced autoimmunity is immune-mediated. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 17, 82, 2004. 

Sayeh, E., and Uetrecht, J.P., Factors that modify penicillamine-induced autoimmunity in Brown Norway rats Failure of the Thl/Th2 paradigm. Toxicology, 163, 195, 2001. 

Ezendam, J., Vos, J., and Pieters, R., Mechanisms of Hexachlorobenzene-induced adverse immune effects in Brown Norway rats. J. Immunotoxicol., 1, 167, 2004. 

Warbrick, E.V., Dearman, R.J. and Kimber, I., Induced changes in the total serum IgE concentration in the Brown Norway rat Potential for identification of chemical respiratory allergens. J. Appl. Toxicol., 22, 1, 2002. 

Atkinson, H.A.C. and Miller, K., Assessment of the Brown Norway rat as a suitable model for investigation of food allergy. Toxicology, 91, 281, 1994. 

Miller, K., Meredith, C, Selo, I. amd Wal, J-M., Allergy to P-lactoglobulin specificity of immunoglobulin E generated in the Brown Norway rat to tryptic and synthetic peptides. Clin. Exp. Allergy., 29, 1696, 1999. 

Pilegaard, K. and Madsen, C., An oral Brown Norway rat model for food allergy comparison of age, sex, dosing volume, and allergen preparation. Toxicology, 196, 247, 2004. 

Akiyama, H., Teshima, R., Sakushima, J., Okunuki, H., Goda, Y., Sawada, J., Toyoda, M., Examination of oral sensitisation with ovalbumin in Brown Norway rats and three strains of mice. Immunol. Lett., 78, 1, 2001. 

Bellon, B., Capron, M., Druet, E., Verroust, P., Wial, M.C., Sapin, C., Girard, J.F., Foidart, J.M., Mahieu, P. and Druet, R (1982). Mercuric chloride induced autoimmune disease in Brown-Norway rats Sequential search for anti-hasement membrane antibodies and circulating immune complexes. Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 12 127-133. 

Rat Genome Sequencing Project Gonsortium. 2004. Genome sequence of the Brown Norway rat yields insights into mammalian evolution. Nature 428 493. 

These effects are hardly limited to mice they have been observed in Norway rats, hamsters, rabbits, voles, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and nonhuman primates. 

Red fox, Vulpes vulpes, feces contain trimethylthiazoline (2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethyl thiazole Fig. 3.1) which alarms a prey species, the Norway rat (Vernet-Maury, 1980). 

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