Livestock guinea pigs: a scoping review from a One Health perspective

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) has been raised in the Andean Region of South America since ancient times, valued not only for its nutritional contributions but also for its cultural and religious significance. The guinea pig remains a significant source of food and incomes for rural communities in the Andean Region of South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. However, while many publications are available about infectious diseases associated to guinea pigs either as laboratory animal model or pets, this knowledge is scarce for guinea pigs raised as livestock. Guinea pig production remains mainly traditional without specific animal health guidelines or zoonotic surveillance programs compared to cattle, pigs or poultry. The aim of this scoping review is to analyze the available literature related to the potential role of livestock guinea pigs as reservoir for zoonotic transmission. Several reports have already shown the carriage of respiratory and enteric bacterial and parasites, and also other pathogens responsible for zoonotic diseases like toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis or bartonelosis. Guinea pig farming industry have to improve an integrative animal health and production strategy from a One Health perspective to reduce the occupational risk and guarantee food security.