Diagnosis: subclinical hypovitaminosis c
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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Hypovitaminosis C (scurvy) or antibiotic-associated enterotoxemia (caused by an overgrowth of _Clostridium difficile_) are the major
differential diagnoses for a guinea pig with severe lethargy, depression, and diarrhea1,2,3. Additional differential diagnoses include Tyzzer's Disease (_Clostridium piliforme_),
salmonellosis, colibacillosis, coccidia (_Eimeria caviae_), _Bordetella bronchiseptica_, malocclusion, heat stress, dehydration, other nutritional deficiencies, and trauma1. We treated the
remaining guinea pig (guinea pig #3) with vitamin C (30 mg/kg s.c. daily) and gave it supplemental fluids (Lactated Ringers Solution, 40 ml/kg s.c. daily). We treated the animal for three
days with no significant change in condition and found it dead on the fourth day. We submitted the blood sample collected from the euthanized guinea pig (guinea pig #2) for a complete blood
count and a biochemistry panel. The results revealed an increase in the number of nucleated red blood cells and polychromasia, suggesting a regenerative anemia caused by subacute hemorrhage.
The leukogram showed an increase in the percentage number of neutrophils without a corresponding left shift, suggesting a chronic inflammatory response. The results of the biochemistry
panel were nonspecific. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased, while creatinine levels were decreased. Because intestinal hemorrhage can cause an increased BUN
concentration, we suspected that the hemorrhagic diarrhea seen clinically in this animal caused the elevation. Daily production of creatinine is usually stable and is dependent upon the diet
and muscle mass of the animal; anorexia and poor body condition can cause a decrease in creatinine production4. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS
OPTIONS Access through your institution ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Harkness, J.E.
& Wagner, J.E. _The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents_ 4th edn (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1995). Google Scholar * Percy, D.H. & Barthold, S.W. _Pathology of
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Subclinical scurvy in the guinea pig. _Vet. Pathol._ 17, 40–44 (1980). Article CAS Google Scholar * Barnes, M.J., Constable, B.J., Impey, S.G. & Kodicek, E. Mortality rate in male and
female guinea-pigs on a scorbutogenic diet. _Nature_ 242, 522–523 (1973). Article CAS Google Scholar Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Hickman is the
Veterinary Medical Officer for the Research and Development Service at the Portland VA Medical Center., Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS, DACLAM * Wasson is a postdoctoral fellow at the University
of California at Davis., Katherine Wasson DVM, DACLAM * Ehrhart is a pathologist at Colorado State University., E. J. Ehrhart DVM, PhD, DACVP Authors * Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS, DACLAM View
author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Katherine Wasson DVM, DACLAM View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google
Scholar * E. J. Ehrhart DVM, PhD, DACVP View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Debra L. Hickman DVM, MS,
DACLAM. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Hickman, D., Wasson, K. & Ehrhart, E. Diagnosis: Subclinical Hypovitaminosis C. _Lab Anim_
32, 24–25 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1003-24 Download citation * Issue Date: October 2003 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1003-24 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the
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