II. Cytomegalovirus (Salivary Gland Virus)
III. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
Antibodies to Pneumonia Virus of Mice (PVM), Sendai virus, and parainfluenza virus 3 (PI-3) may be commonly detected in healthy Guinea pigs. These viruses produce no clinical diseases in guinea pigs. However, the Guinea pig supports limited replication of some of these viruses, and must be considered a potential reservoir of virus(es) for infection of other susceptible laboratory animals. Adenovirus tracheobronchitis has been diagnosed by recognition of characteristic viral inclusions in respiratory epithelium. Clinical disease is uncommon. A serologic test for adenovirus is not commercially available.
II. Cytomegalovirus (Salivary Gland Virus)
Guinea pig cytomegalovirus (CMV) typically causes subclinical, latent
infections in Guinea pigs. Immunosuppression from a variety of causes is
probably involved in causing recrudescence of virus and overt disease.
CMV is transmitted horizontally and across the placenta. The incidence
of infection is not well known and varies from research to pet colonies
of Guinea pigs. The characteristic microscopic lesion in acute, yet
inapparent, infections is the appearance of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion
bodies (arrows) frequently accompanied by basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions
in the ductal epithelial cells of salivary glands. A lymphoid cell
infiltrate accompanies the viral infection once the ductal epithelia rupture
to release virus particles. Diagnosis of infection is accomlished
by visualization of inclusions and by detecting anti-CMV antibody by ELISA
or IFA.
III. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) Virus
LCM is caused by a RNA arenavirus which has been shown to infect a number of species, including Guinea pigs and man. Wild mice are considered to be a reservoir for the agent, and spontaneous infection of Guinea pigs from contact with infected mice has not been reported. Viral infection of laboratory rodents and Guinea pigs may result from parenteral inoculation of an LCM virus-contaminated biologic material, such as cultured cells or a serum product, or from experimental LCM viral infection studies. Guinea pigs infected with LCM virus will generally not show clinical signs, but hind limb paralysis and CNS signs consistent with meningitis have been reported in experimentally-infected animals. Seroconversion will occur fairly early in the course of the disease. PCR and ELISA tests are available.
Public Health Significance: Guinea pigs receiving LCM virus-infected
biologics as a result of a research protocol may contract infection.
Transplantable cells or biologic materials for inoculation should be screened
for LCM virus by PCR or bioassay methods.
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