Jill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>Just wondering where you got the information that gerbils can catch human
>colds- viruses are by and large species specific. In all my years of caring
>for gerbils and doing my pre-veterinary work, I've never heard this. I'd
>like to see what source has this information and how they explain it.
>Thanks,
>Jill
>
I agree. It is often suggested that human colds can affect gerbils. But
certainly we have never seen any evidence for this. Also despite an
extensive search in The British Library I cannot find any evidence of
any viral disease affecting gerbils at all.
Gerbils can carry viruses, but domestic populations simply do not appear
to be prone to any diseases. There is however one case of a human
catching a virus (Rat Bite Fever) from a gerbil.
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
