|
| Murine sepsis score |
| Variables | Score and description |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|
| Appearance | Coat is smooth | Patches of hair piloerected | Majority of the back is piloerected | Piloerection may or may not be present, and the mouse appears “puffy” | Piloerection may or may not be present, and the mouse appears emaciated |
| Level of consciousness | Mouse is active | The mouse is active but avoids standing upright | Mouse activity is noticeably slowed. The mouse is still ambulant | Activity is impaired. Mouse only moves when provoked, and movements have a tremor | Activity is severely impaired. Mouse remains stationary when provoked, with possible tremor |
| Activity | A normal amount of activity. The mouse is doing all the eating, drinking, climbing, running, and fighting | Slightly suppressed activity. The mouse is moving around the bottom of the cage | Suppressed activity. The mouse is stationary with occasional investigative movements | No activity. Mouse is stationary | No activity. Mouse is experiencing tremors, particularly in the hind legs |
| Response to stimulus | The mouse responds immediately to auditory stimulus or touch | Slow or no response to an auditory stimulus; strong response to touch (moves to escape) | No response to an auditory stimulus; moderate response to touch (moves a few steps) | No response to an auditory stimulus; mild response to touch (no locomotion) | No response to an auditory stimulus. Little or no response to touch. It cannot right itself if pushed over |
| Eyes | Open | Eyes not fully open, possibly with secretions | Eyes at least half-closed, possibly with secretions | Eyes half-closed or more, possibly with secretions | Eyes closed or milky |
| Respiration rate | Normal, rapid mouse respiration | Slightly decreased respiration (rate not quantifiable by eye) | Moderately reduced respiration (the rate at the upper range of quantifying by eye) | Severely reduced respiration (rate easily countable by eye, 0.5 s between breaths) | Extremely reduced respiration (>1 s between breaths) |
| Respiration quality | Normal | Brief periods of labored breathing | Labored, no gasping | Labored with intermittent gasps | Gasping |
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