Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fur mites in guinea pigs in southern Italy - how common are they?
By d'Ovidio, Dario & Santoro, Domenico·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2014·Private practitioner, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of fur mites (Chirodiscoides caviae) in pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in southern Italy.
- Species:
- rodent
Plain-English summary
A group of guinea pigs in southern Italy was found to have a high rate of fur mite infestation, with 32% affected by Chirodiscoides caviae. Most of these guinea pigs showed no symptoms, but some did experience itching, hair loss, redness, and flaky skin, particularly around the lower back area. The study revealed that guinea pigs from pet shops were more likely to have these mites than those owned privately. If your guinea pig is scratching or has skin issues, it's a good idea to check for mites, especially if they came from a pet store.
People also search for: guinea pig itching treatment · fur mites in guinea pigs · signs of skin problems in guinea pigs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chirodiscoides caviae is the most common fur mite affecting guinea pigs; infestation is generally asymptomatic. No studies have been published on the prevalence of such mites in guinea pigs in southern Italy. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical signs of C. caviae infestation in guinea pigs in southern Italy. ANIMALS: Clinical records of guinea pigs evaluated from August 2012 to July 2013 were retrospectively searched. METHODS: In this retrospective matched case-control study, records of guinea pigs with evidence of C. caviae infestation were selected. The prevalence of C. caviae infestation was evaluated and exposure variables were assessed among guinea pigs with and without infestation using stepwise conditional logistic regression. Guinea pigs seen during the same time period, but without a diagnosis of C. caviae, were included as control animals. RESULTS: The prevalence of C. caviae was 32% (42 of 131); 66.6% of affected guinea pigs (28 of 42) originated from pet shops, whereas 28% (14 of 42) were privately owned. Thirty-one guinea pigs (73.8%) were asymptomatic, whereas 11 (26.1%) showed clinical signs (pruritus, alopecia, erythema and scaling). The most frequently affected area was the lumbosacral region (38 of 42). Guinea pigs in pet shops were more likely to be affected by C. caviae than owned guinea pigs (odds ratio, 5.12; 95% confidence interval, 2.32-11.29; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate a high prevalence of C. caviae infestation in guinea pigs in southern Italy. Chirodiscoides mites should be sought in guinea pigs, particularly in animals coming from pet shops.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24476091/