Parazitoze la cobai

The investigations were conducted on 30 guinea pigs from a biological unit in Bucharest. Infestations with ectoparasites were detected in 46,6 % of the animals, of which 64,2 % with malophagous lice and 35,7% with acari Chirodiscoides caviae. Of 21 killed guinea pigs 19,04 % were infested with Eimeria caviae and 23,8 % with Paraspidodera uncinata. This nematode is considered by many researchers the etiologic agent of oxyurosis but it is characterized by: evenly calibrated body, the female is 20-22mm long and the male 16-17mm, at the anterior extremity it has 4 equal lips around the mouth, the males posterior extremity is recurved with 2 equal thick spicules and gubernaculums.

The histological sections in cecum showed the ectasis of capillary from the submucous membrane, bleeding and the presence of a round section formation in the mucous corium (possibly larva in enteroparietal migration). The intestinal lumen shows a transversal section through the adult worm. The Paraspidodera uncinata nematode is located in the large intestine, and the morphological particularities are not correlated with Oxyuridae family.

Keywords - guinea pigs, ectoparasitosis, endoparasitosis.

Introduction

Guinea pigs rearing presumes the correct application of the growth technology ensuring the parameters of microclimate, housing and feeding, monitoring the health status of the animals and the identification of the pathological disorders in their early stages. Parasitary infestations were noticed within the intensive rearing system used in the biological units functioning in the research institutes operating by the institutions which produce biopreparations and medicines for human or animal use. The permanent ectoparasitism with malophagous lice was diagnosed in the Guinea pigs reared in biological units, the infestation was caused by Gliricola porcelli, Trimenopon hispidum and Gyropus ovalis species.( 2 ). The persistent scratching accompanied by alopecia, hyperaemia and crusts is also noticed in the ectoparasitism with Chirodiscoides caviae acari observed in the microscopic preparations done from the superficial curetting of the hurt skin. Alves L.C. et al.( 1 ) mentioned in 2007 infestations with Balantidium sp. in 78 % of the necropsied guinea pigs Giardia muris in 24 % Eimeria caviae in 38 % and Paraspidodera uncinatain 34 %. Eliazian M.( 4 ) cited the efficacy of Levamisol given s.c. 25 mg./kg. to the pregnant and non-pregnant guinea pig sows with remarkable results in controlling the infestation with Paraspidodera uncinata.

Material and methods

The investigations were conducted during February 2007 - March 2008 on a total of 30 guinea pigs of different ages produced by a biological unit from Bucharest with a stock of 2200 dam and sire and 400 growing guinea pigs.

The guinea pigs were examined clinically to evaluate the cutaneous hurts. The wounded areas were curetted superficially and the material was examined under the microscope to identify the ectoparasites species. The coproscopic examination was performed with the flotation method of Willis and Mc. Master. Twenty one guinea pigs were killed and necropsied to identify the parasites and the existing lesions.

Samples of cecum were collected, preserved in neutral 10% saline formol and processed with the histological technique. The histological preparations were stained with the HE method and with the trichromatic method of Masson.

Adult nematodes were collected from the cecum lumen, cleared in lactophenol and examined microscopically for identification.

The infestation with nematodes and the ectoparasitism with lice were controlled with Romavermectina B1 0,2 mg/kg. s.c. 2 times at three weeks

Results and discussion

The microscopic examination of the material curetted from the hurt areas of the skin revealed the presence of infestations with insect ectoparasites - malophagous lice and with Chirodiscoides caviae acari.

Table 1

Incidence of ectoparasites infestations.

Nr.of examined guinea pigs Nr. of infested guinea pigs Percent

% Malophagous lice Chirodiscoides caviae

Nr. percent Nr. percent

30 14 46,6 9 64,2 5 35,7

The microscopic examination revealed insect and acari ectoparasitism in 14 guinea pigs (46,6%) of which infestation with malophagous lice in 9 animals (64,2%) and infestation with Chirodiscoides caviae acari in 5 animals (35,7%) (Fig.3). The malophagous lice were represented by species Gliricola porcelli and Trimenopon hispidum (Fig.1, Fig. 2). The animals infested with malophagous lice and acari were restless, scratched, showed alopecia, hyperaemia, crusts and poor coat.

The necropsy performed on 21 killed guinea pigs showed infestation with Eimeria caviae in 4 animals (19,04%) and with Paraspidodera uncinata nematode in 5 animals (23,8%). Thirteen specimens of Paraspidodera uncinata nematodes (8 females and 5 males) were identified in the cecum lumen from 5 guinea pigs

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