The inoculation of tissue specimens into guinea-pigs in suspected cases of mycobacterial infection--does it aid diagnosis and treatment?
The record of guinea-pig inoculations carried out at the London Hospital during a 5-year period was examined. A total of 677 specimens were inoculated into guinea-pigs: 34 were positive on culture and guinea-pig post-mortem and 22 were positive on culture alone. Only five were positive on guinea-pig post-mortem when culture was negative and in only three of these five cases were mycobacteria isolated from the guinea-pig tissues. All three cases had been diagnosed effectively on histological grounds, although in one case the results of sensitivity testing did alter treatment. Despite this marginal benefit it is suggested, on grounds of cost, safety, and animal welfare, that the practice of routine inoculation of suspected tuberculous tissue specimens into guinea-pigs should be discontinued.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*