6 LEAFLET 2 52. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Pasteurellosis or hemorrhagic septicemia is caused by PasteureUa 

 aviseptica. Contact with infected animals spreads this disease to 

 healthy animals. It also may be air-borne or carried in the feed. 

 Crowding and unsanitary conditions contribute to its spread. It is 

 manifested by acute or chronic respiratory infection. In severe cases 

 there is pneumonia, hemorrhagic and fibrous pleuritis, and pericardi- 

 tis. The infection may also spread to the peritoneal cavity and uterus 

 and cause enlargement of the spleen. Some animals seem to be more 

 immune than others and should be selected for breeding stock. 



Pseudotuberculosis is caused by PasteureUa pseudotuberculosis. 

 Infection is through the intestinal tract. Affected guinea pigs lose 

 weight, develop diarrhea, and die in 3 to 4 weeks. The lymph glands 

 of the peritoneal cavity and inguinal regions are greatly enlarged, 

 containing small abscesses filled with thick pus. The liver and spleen 

 are enlarged and contain pale-grey nodules. Little is known regard- 

 ing treatment for the disease except to dispose of an infected colony. 



Sporadic tuberculosis may occur in guinea pigs, but under usual 

 circumstances these animals have little chance of infection. 



Pyogenic infections. — Abscesses of the subcutaneous tissue of the 

 head, neck, or other parts of the body are sometimes caused by strep- 

 tococci, staphylococci, and other organisms entering the tissues through 

 small surface wounds. Often the cervical lymph glands are involved 

 and the condition becomes epidemic. Affected animals should be 

 destroyed to prevent contamination of the cages and other animals. 



Pneumonia. — Epidemics of pneumonia caused by pneumococci 

 sometimes occur in a guinea-pig colony. Mortality usually is high. 

 Such outbreaks, however, are rare and are due to unusual circum- 

 stances. Brucella broncMseptica also sometimes causes epidemics of 

 pneumonia in guinea pigs. 



Virus Diseases 



Ascending paralysis may be caused by a virus of salivary-gland 

 disease. The paralysis begins at the lower end of the spinal column 

 and gradually works upward,. The incidence of the disease is un- 

 known. 



Virus pneumonia is highly fatal in guinea pigs and may wipe out 

 the whole colony. It is spread by contact. Remove all diseased ani- 

 mals to a separate room or dispose of them altogether. 



Enterohepatitis is an acute disease of guinea pigs manifested by 

 diarrhea and wasting. Its range of occurrence is unknown. 



Salivary gland disease is an inapparent infection of guinea pigs. 

 Inclusion bodies are present in hypertrophied cells of the ducts, sali- 

 vary gland, and sometimes the kidneys. 



Whenever an outbreak of disease occurs that involves a considerable 

 portion of the colony, and death losses are high, an infectious ailment 

 should be suspected. A laboratory diagnosis should be obtained if 

 possible to determine the exact nature of the trouble, and the appro- 

 priate measures taken to control or prefer abl} T to eradicate the infec- 

 tion. Usually, prompt slaughter of all affected or exposed animals 

 and complete burning or deep burial of the carcasses is the best pro- 

 cedure. This should be followed by thorough cleansing of cages and 

 houses, burning of all litter, and disinfection of the entire premises. 

 Several weeks should elapse before restocking. 



