TYPHLITIS CAUSED BY INTESTINAL SERPULINA-LIKE BACTERIA IN DOMESTIC GUINEA-PIGS (CAVIA-PORCELLUS)

Between January 1992 and December 1996, Serpulina-like bacteria were d emonstrated in intestinal tract lesions from 37 of 88 guinea pigs subm itted to the University of Ghent in Ghent, Belgium, for necropsy becau se of disease and death from different unknown causes. All infected an imals had a history of sudden death with minimal introductory clinical signs. Occasionally, they produced yellow, slimy feces or showed nerv ous signs, but the condition always had a fatal outcome within 24 h. W hen larger colonies of guinea pigs were involved, the disease spread v ery rapidly unless treatment with ronidazole was initiated. Lesions co nsisted of a catarrhal or hemorrhagic inflammation of the colon and ce cum (typhlitis). Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of larg e numbers of Serpulina-like organisms adhering to the cecal mucosae of these animals. Attempts to isolate the agents failed. The organisms d id not stain by an immunofluorescence technique for the detection of S erpulina hyodysenteriae. The present data provide evidence that intest inal Serpulina-like organisms can be important as a cause of disease i n guinea pigs.