Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What term describes hair loss in animals?

1. Alopecia

2. Dermatitis

3. Hypotrichosis

4. Pruritus

The correct answer is: Alopecia

Alopecia is the term used to describe hair loss in animals. This condition can occur for various reasons, including genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, infestations by parasites, allergies, or underlying health issues. Understanding alopecia is important for laboratory animal technicians because it can significantly affect the health and wellbeing of the animals in their care, as well as the validity of research outcomes involving those animals. Other conditions mentioned, such as dermatitis, refer specifically to skin inflammation, which can sometimes lead to hair loss as a secondary effect but does not directly describe the loss of hair itself. Hypotrichosis indicates a reduced amount of hair but is not a general term for hair loss. Pruritus describes itching, which may accompany hair loss but again does not refer specifically to the condition of losing hair. Thus, alopecia is the most accurate term to denote hair loss in animals.