Posted by Babyblue on April 24, 2003 at 16:43:16:
In Reply to: Re: An Ethical Dilemma posted by laurenk on April 24, 2003 at 14:42:34:
Rats can't transmit myco to other rats because they already have it. Some never show any symtoms and can live perfectly healthy lives, some rats are genetically more resistant. Usually it is when a rat gets a secondary infection or viral infection, that their immune system goes out of wack and myco can kick in. Some rats just have chronic myco and battle with it all their lives. So when someone says their rats are sick with Myco, it doesn't mean their rats caught it from other rats, but something happened in their body and it triggered myco symtoms. You can't really get rid of myco, what antibiotics do is keeping it in check.
I have a rat with chronic myco, who's been sick on and off since she was 3 mos old, she's not over a year old. She lives with 7 other girls, and I also have 5 boys. All new rats are quarantined (kept in separate building) for 3 weeks to make sure they're healthy (free of any respiratory problems and most importantly free of viral infections that ARE deadly). I've never had any problems because of my "Myco rat".
