title: Family Outbreaks of Nontyphoidal Salmonellosis following a Meal of Guinea Pigs.
abstract: Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to a wide variety of foods, including recent nationwide outbreaks. Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), also known as cuy or cobayo, has long been a popular delicacy and ceremonial food in the Andean region in South America. This case report describes three family outbreaks of nontyphoidal salmonellosis, each occurring after a meal of guinea pigs. We believe this case report is the first to describe a probable association between the consumption of guinea pig meat and human salmonellosis. Physicians should be aware of the association of Salmonella and the consumption of guinea pigs, given the increasing immigration of people from the Andean region of South America and the increasing travel to this region.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, USA ; Inpatient Dermatology Consultative Service, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA, USA ; University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 North Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newstein
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