Frequency of bacterial agents associated with mortality in guinea pigs from commercial-family breeding centres in Canchis, Cusco

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify bacterial agents isolated from fatal cases in guinea pigs as well as to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility from two commercial-family breeding centres in the province of Canchis, Cusco-Peru. In total, 230 animals (130 with respiratory lesions and 100 with enterohepatic lesions) were processed, including samples of the liver, lung, spleen and intestine. A microbiological culture and antibiogram were performed on agar with discs of the main antibiotics used in guinea pigs rearing. In the respiratory lesions, Streptococcus sp (47.1%), Bordetella sp (26.4%), Salmonella sp (13.8%), Klebsiella sp (9.2%) and Pasteurella sp (3.4%) were identified. Likewise, in guinea pigs with enteric lesions, Salmonella sp (56.8%), E. coli (29.7%), Citrobacter sp (7.6%) and Klebsiella sp (5.9%) were identified. The highest frequency of bi-bacterial isolates in respiratory lesions was for Streptococcus sp and Bordetella sp, while for liver-enteric lesions it was Salmonella sp and E. coli was registered. The general frequency of resistance in the isolates was 5.4 and 3.6% for enrofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. The results showed a variety of bacterial genera present in respiratory and enteric-hepatic processes in guinea pigs, as well as a low frequency of antibiotic resistance in the isolated strains.