Some data on establishing a specific-pathogen-free guinea pig colony.
Detailed procedures for the germfree delivery of guinea pigs using a "dry hysterectomy" technic were given; 320 animals were alive after hysterectomy, but there was a subsequent loss of 37% of the animals, mainly during the first and second weeks. Their specific-pathogen-free maintenance, feeding, and association with an anerobic flora were described. Feeding 3 times a day vs twice a day decreased mortality from 48% to 20%.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000254:growth & development*; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms