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Question
QUESTION: Last week my approximately 11 month old dumbo rat became ill and passed away while I was on a short vacation.  I noticed Friday night that she did not come out of a hiding spot for a treat.  We had plans to leave the next morning and be away for three days.  She passed while we were gone. Unfortunately two nights ago (12 days after first noticing Minnie's symptoms and 9 days after her passing) I noticed her cage mate, Peanut, did not wish to be coaxed out of her hiding spot which is not normal.  Their symptoms seemed to me very much like what is described when they have pneumonia.  I took her to the vet and he did not believe she had pneumonia.  Said her lungs did not sound like it.  Nor did he believe that she had a strep related virus given the absence of swollen glands in her neck.  He did give me an antibiotice in case we were dealing with pneumonia, but this mornings dose she just let sit in her mouth.  She didn't even try to swallow it.  I knew she would be gone when I got home from work.  My daughter just called to let me know I was correct.  What I'd really like to know is what type of contagious virus could two well-cared for rats who have not come into contact with any other rats have picked up.  We have had peanut for a short 3 1/2 months and got her as a baby.  Could something have lied dormant since we brought her home?  We have one rat left that doesn't have any symptoms at this time.  I should add the other two have been sneezing quite a bit for the last few weeks.  Any insight?

ANSWER:
I hate to say this but your vet is incorrect to suggest that there has to be swollen glands in the neck to indicate a strep related virus (there is no such thing, actually)  What he may be confused with is SDA, which is a virus known as the dreaded Sialodacryoadenitis virus which causes inflammation of lymph nodes and glands.  One of the major signs of this very contagious virus is swelling around the neck and cervical nodes and also bulging of eyes. Excessive porphyrin around the eyes and nose is also noted as this virus can also infects the harderian and intraorbital lacrimal glands located behind the eyes.

However, this virus is not usually fatal, but it can lower the immune system and cause the rat to contract a secondary infection. If the immune system is unstable and the rat comes down with a secondary infection such as a respiratory infection, esp related to mycoplasmosis pulmonis, it can be dangerous as the rat wont have the strong defenses to fight the infection.

I do feel your rat indeed had strep pneumonia. This can be fatal indeed within just a few short days, sometimes hours.  The second rat probably was mourning the passing of the first.

This stress will also weaken the immune system and make the rat open to catching what the first rat had.  Strep pneumonia is not often heard in the lungs esp if the lungs have no air moving at all. A very seasoned vet in exotics will know this. I do think your first hunch was right and your rat had pneumonia, strep was probably the culprit.  I am very sorry for your loss.   Incubation for this disease is right around 10 days give or take a few days either way.

I would get the remaining rat on amoxil right away to ward off any lingering strep bacteria.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the prompt reply.  After reading your response I think I misquoted the vet.  I know we discussed strep in the course of the visit, but I recall him saying SDA as well he even offered up the long version of the name.  I think I related the strep to the swollen glands as that is how it manifests in my kids!

My husband is trying to convince me that I did everything I could, I just wish I could have caught is sooner and maybe saved them.  I will take your advice and see if I can prevent this from happening to Punkin.  I

Answer
To be honest, strep pneumonia is so lethal, its really hard to get it controlled.  If your vet did not feel this was the problem, there would be nothing you could do about properly treating them anyhow.  Treatment for strep pneumonia consists of very aggressive antibiotic therapy including possible over night stay with oxygen if needed. Various aggressive powerful antibiotics are used, such as gentocin or amakacin injections, steroids for lung inflammation if the lungs were consolidated.... it would all be in the hands of the vet and out of yours, so dont blame yourself.  The sad part is, after all of that, they still have a chance of not pulling through.  The younger and more healthy the rat, the better the prognosis is, but its a pretty dangerous infection that can take our rats lives in just a short time, so short in fact, it leaves us scratching our heads saying "wow. What was THAT all about?!!"