Disease Susceptibility

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Hamsters tend to be affected by relatively few naturally

occurring diseases.  Their susceptibility, however, to a host

of infectious diseases of other animals, including people, and

the ease with which these diseases can be transmitted to hamsters

have made them very popular laboratory animals for biomedical

research.  Teddy bear hamsters and other genetic varieties tend

to be much more susceptible to disease and sensitive to

antibiotics and other drugs than golden hamsters.