ABSTRACT
Syrian hamsters are a favored model for yellow fever research for both study of the pathogenesis and investigation of candidate therapeutics. Syrian hamsters also continue to play a key role in research into lipid and glucose metabolism, aging, skeletal and cardiac muscular dystrophy, oral carcinogenesis, and circadian rhythm. A variety of sites are readily available for blood collection from the laboratory hamster. Choice of site depends on quantity of blood required, frequency of collection, training and expertise of personnel involved, and procedural limitations that might be imposed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Blood can also be collected from the hamster's orbital venous sinus using a tuberculin syringe fitted with a 1-cm 23-gauge needle. Cystocentesis can be used to collect a sterile urine sample from an anesthetized hamster; however, samples collected by cystocentesis are subject to contamination by small amounts of tissue and red blood cells.
