title: Therapeutic efficacy of oral lactobacillus preparation for antibiotic-associated enteritis in guinea pigs.
abstract: Enteritis is a potential complication of antimicrobial agent use, particularly in certain species of rodents. The organism most frequently implicated in this disease is Clostridium difficile. Anecdotal information suggests that administration of yogurt or other Lactobacillus-containing products in conjunction with antimicrobial agents will prevent or minimize the effects of antibiotic-associated enteritis. We wanted to determine whether a single subcutaneous injection of clindamycin phosphate could induce enteritis in guinea pigs and whether a commercial Lactobacillus preparation would ameliorate the clinical effects of antibiotic administration in these animals. Juvenile male guinea pigs were divided into three treatment groups. Group 1 guinea pigs (n=8) received a single saline injection followed by an oral Lactobacillus preparation twice daily; group 2 (n=8) received a single antibiotic injection followed by an oral Lactobacillus preparation twice daily; group 3 (n=8) received a single antibiotic injection. Attitude, body temperature, body weight, and feed and water consumption were recorded for each guinea pig 7 days prior to and after treatment. Fecal samples were collected and necropsies performed on each guinea pig at the time of euthanasia. C. difficile and other enteric pathogens were not isolated from any group before or after treatment, although some guinea pigs receiving the antibiotic developed enteritis. There were no significant clinical differences between guinea pigs receiving antibiotics with the oral Lactobacillus preparation, and those receiving antibiotics alone. The results of this study suggest that a single injection of clindamycin phosphate can induce enteritis in guinea pigs and that oral administration of a Lactobacillus-containing product is ineffective in preventing clinical disease in guinea pigs administered clindamycin phosphate.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, 2001 South Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wasson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Criley
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Clabaugh
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Peper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; C007084:clindamycin phosphate