Why do mice die? - briefly
Mice succumb mainly to predation, disease, starvation, and extreme environmental conditions. Toxic exposure and genetic defects also contribute to mortality.
Why do mice die? - in detail
Mice succumb to a range of biological and environmental factors that interrupt essential physiological processes.
- Pathogenic agents: Bacterial infections such as Salmonella and Streptococcus species, viral agents including mouse hepatitis virus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and parasitic infestations (e.g., Trichinella larvae) damage organs, impair immunity, and can lead to rapid mortality.
- Nutritional deficiencies: Inadequate intake of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins (especially A, D, and B‑complex), and minerals disrupt metabolic pathways, cause organ failure, and increase susceptibility to disease.
- Toxic exposure: Ingestion of rodenticides, heavy metals (lead, mercury), mycotoxins, or contaminated water interferes with enzymatic activity and neural transmission, often resulting in hemorrhage, seizures, or organ collapse.
- Predation and trauma: Birds of prey, snakes, domestic cats, and larger mammals inflict lethal injuries. Accidental wounds from traps, crushing, or falls produce hemorrhagic shock or irreversible tissue damage.
- Environmental stressors: Extreme temperatures trigger hyperthermia or hypothermia; dehydration reduces blood volume and impairs cellular function; overcrowding elevates stress hormones, suppresses immune response, and accelerates disease spread.
- Genetic abnormalities: Inbred laboratory strains may carry recessive mutations that cause congenital defects, reduced viability, or predisposition to specific ailments.
- Age‑related decline: Senescence diminishes regenerative capacity, weakens cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and increases the likelihood of neoplastic growths, culminating in natural death.
Each factor can act alone or combine with others, creating compounded effects that overwhelm homeostatic mechanisms and result in fatal outcomes. Understanding these mechanisms aids in developing preventive strategies for laboratory colonies, pest management, and wildlife conservation.