Guinea pigs

Question 1

Eimeria caviae

Answer 1

Site: Large intestine
Family: Eimeriidae
Unique features: Generally non-pathogenic
Treatment: Sulphamezathine. Ammonium based products may kill it

Question 2

Cryptosporidium wrairi

Answer 2

Site: Small intestine
Family: Cryptosporidiidae
Unique features: Oocysts the size of RBCs. Only reported in small guinea pigs under 300g

Question 3

Paraspirdodera uncinata

Answer 3

Site: Small intestine
Superfamily: Ascarid
Unique features: generally non-pathogenic
Treatment: Piperazine in drinking water; Ivermectin SQ

Question 4

Entameoba caviae

Answer 4

Site: Cecum
Family: Entamoebidae
Unique features: Trophozoites have 8 nuclei when mature

Question 5

Tritrichomonas caviae

Answer 5

Site: Cecum
Family: Trichomonididae
Unique features: Has 3 anterior flagella and well defined axostyle wth a prominent costa

Question 6

Monocercomonoides caviae, Monocercomonoides quadrifunilis, Monocercomonoides wenrichi, and exilis

Answer 6

Site: Cecum
Family: Polymastigidae
Unique features: Trophozoites
Considered commensals

Question 7

Hexamastix caviae & Hexamastix robustus

Answer 7

Site: Cecum
Class: Trichomonadae
Unique features: Trophozoites resemble other trichomonads
Considered commensals

Question 8

Protomonas brevifilia

Answer 8

Site: Cecum
Order: Trichomonadida
Unique features: Trophozoites
Considered commensals and smaller than Hexamastix

Question 9

Chilomitus caviae & Chilomitus conexus

Answer 9

Site: Cecum
Class: Trichomonadae
Unique features: Trophozoites with absent axostyle
Considered commensals and smaller than Hexamastix

Question 10

Caviomonas mobilus

Answer 10

Site: Cecum
Family: Hexamitidae
Unique features: Trophozoites have ovoid carrot shaped body with single flaellum arising from anterior end and extends along the periphery of the body surface

Question 11

Enteromonas caviae

Answer 11

Site: Cecum
Family: Enteromonadidae
Unique features: Trophozoites le
Considered commensals

Question 12

Retortamonas caviae

Answer 12

Site: Cecum
Class: Retortamonadea
Unique features: Trophozoites

Question 13

Klossiella cobayae

Answer 13

Site: Kidney
Family: Klossiellidae
Unique features: replicates in the kidney and sporocysts are passed in the urine. Considered non pathogenic

Question 14

Gyropus ovalis

Answer 14

Guinea pig louse
Site: Skin- ears and nack
Suborder: Amblycera
Unique features: Tears skin until blood pools & feeds from pools
Treatment: Imidacloprid

Question 15

Gliricola porcelli

Answer 15

Guinea pig louse
Site: body fur
Suborder: Amblycera
Unique features: Tears skin until blood pools & feeds from pools; 5-pairs of abdominal spiracles located ventralled within distinct sclerotized spiracular plates
Treatment: Imidacloprid

Question 16

Trimenopon hispidium

Answer 16

Guinea pig louse
Site: Hair
Suborder: Amblycera
Unique features: rare
Treatment: Imidacloprid

Question 17

Chirodiscoides caviae

Answer 17

Guinea pig fur mite
Site: Surface of Skin, clasps to hair usually along the posterior trunk of the body
Order: Asitigmata (Sarcoptiformes)
Unique features:
Treatment: Ivermectin

Question 18

Trixacarus caviae

Answer 18

Guinea pig mite
Site: Skin, body - burrowing
Order: Asitigmata (Sarcoptiformes)
Unique features: Similar to Sarcoptes scabiei,but smaller (230-240 um); Dorsal anus position (like Notoedres) and spines
Treatment: Ivermectin

Question 19

Demodex caviae

Answer 19

Site: Hair follicles and sebaceous glands
Family: Demodicidae
Unique features: Elongated cigar shaped body