Hamster

Hamsters were developed as a model for Lyme disease, which is transmitted through the bite of a deer tick. Though hamsters do not themselves contract the tick-borne disease, people, pets and livestock are quite susceptible to the bite of the tiny deer tick who carries the parasite responsible for the disease.

An experimental hamster vaccine has been produced as a result of  this work, which will hopefully lead to vaccines suitable for livestock, pets, and eventually, humans. Already a vaccine which protects dogs from Lyme disease is in general use.

Hamsters will continue to be needed for testing the effectiveness of various antibiotics in treating Lyme disease, as well as in developing diagnostic tests.A desert species commonly known as the Djungarian hamster is found in Mongolia and parts of Siberia and Manchuria.

The growth and reproduction of these hamsters are known to be influenced by the amount of natural light in the environment. For this reason, the role of the pineal gland in maintaining the body's "biological clock" has been studied intensively with the Djungarian hamster model.

Chinese hamsters develop an inherited form of diabetes mellitus similar to insulin-dependent diabetes in humans. This hamster genus has also been used in studies on radiobiology, infectious diseases, growth and reproduction, development, behavior and the effects of environment on breeding activity.