Naturally Occurring Adenovirus-Induced Respiratory Disease in Two Guinea Pigs

摘要

Respiratory disease is a common cause of morbidity in the guinea pig, and is chiefly of bacterial origin (5). Although a variety of viral diseases do occur in the guinea pig, there has been only one previous report of an adenovirus-induced respiratory disease (4) and none reported in the U.S. We report here two cases of pneumonia due to an adenovirus in guinea pigs. Two adult, female Hartley Crl:(HA/BR)) guinea pigs being used in anthrax vaccine trials showed clinical signs of hunched posture, weight loss, rough hair coat, rapid labored breathing, and a catarrhal exudate around the external nares and on the front feet. Guinea pig no. 1 had received five injections of an experimental anthrax vaccine at 2-day intervals, while guinea pig no. 2, as part of the control group, had received five saline injections at the same intervals. Of the other 118 guinea pigs in the experiment, three had died prior to this small outbreak but were not submitted for histological examination. Guinea pig no. 1 died six days after the fifth injection. Guinea pig no. 2, being moribund, was killed the same day. Gross necropsy findings were similar for both animals. A catarrahal exudate was found throughout the entire upper respiratory tract and fromed a brownish crust around the external nares. All lung lobes remained partially distended with well-delineated, variably-sized reddish foci. The left caudal lobe of guinea pig no. 1 was markedly reddened over much of the lobe. No other significant gross lesions were noted. Aerobic bacterial cultures of lung, liver, and middle ears had no growth. No pathogenic species were isolated from bacterial cultures of proximal trachea and pharyngeal swabs.