An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infection associated with calcium oxalate urolithiasis in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infection occurred in a colony of 800 Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs resulting in 364 (46%) deaths involving breeders, sucklings, weaners, but mainly adults used as a source of blood meals for haematophagus flies (Glossina palpalis). Clinical signs included bleeding from the nose, mouth and vagina before death. Necropsy revealed pneumonia with consolidation of one or both lungs, haemopericardium and haemothorax. There were yellowish-grey deposits in the urinary bladder of more than 50% of both affected breeders and adults used for feeding haematophagus flies. Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated in pure culture from many tissues including the urinary bladder. The survivors were treated with oxytetracycline (Terramycin-LA; Pfizer) using the intra-muscular route and the response was good.

Uterine involvement in guineapig salmonellosis

Of 334 mature breeding guineapigs, 53 (15.9%) died in a disease outbreak involving Salmonella typhimurium serotypes 1, 4, 5 and 12 : i : 1,2. The uterus was consistently involved. Nine other Salmonella-free mature female guineapigs when inoculated with a pure isolate from the outbreak, using the subcutaneous, intramuscular or per os route, succumbed to salmonellosis, reproducing signs and lesions observed during the outbreak. Abortion was not recorded during the outbreak despite many pregnant sows being affected. The isolate was sensitive to gentamicin, tetracycline, ampicillin and cefuroxime but resistant to co-trimoxazole, erythromycin and penicillin.

Double intussusception fatally complicated by clostridial infection in a dog (a case report)

A 10-month-old Alsation dog with history of anorexia, diarrhoea, dehydration and vomition developed a double intussusception which affected the distal jejunum and proximal ileum. Necropsy revealed the intussusception to be swollen and congested with fibrinous adhesions between the intussusceptum and intussuscepiens. Two pieces of bone believed to be the inciting cause were found within the intussusceptum. Clostridium welchii and Clostridium bifermentans were isolated from the lesions.

Fatal case of salmonellosis (Salmonella pullorum) in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in the Jos Zoo

A case of salmonellosis in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglydytes) is reported. Confirmatory diagnosis was based on clinical signs, necropsy and histopathological examination, and the isolation of Salmonella pullorum from the lung, liver, kidney and intestines of the animal. The source of infection was not ascertained.