Cerebrospinal larva migrans due to Baylisascaris procyonis in a guinea pig colony

Four guinea pigs from a colony of approximately 50 animals were examined for progressive neurologic disease of 5 days' duration. Signs of neurologic dysfunction included cachexia, stupor, hyperexcitability, lateral recumbency, and opisthotonos. Results of gross pathologic, microbiologic, and serologic examinations were unremarkable. Histologic examination of cerebral and cerebellar sections revealed multifocal malacia and regions of eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation. Cross-sections of nematode larvae, identified as Baylisascaris sp., most likely B. procyonis, the raccoon ascarid, were seen in the brain of some affected animals. An intact Baylisascaris larva was recovered from a symptomatic animal when cerebral tissue was processed by the Baermann extraction technique. Results of further investigation indicated that wood shavings used for the guinea pigs had been contaminated by raccoon feces, some of which contained numerous B. procyonis eggs. The bedding source for this colony was changed and, to date, no new cases of neurologic disease have been seen. This report emphasizes the potential insidious entrance of B. procyonis into well-managed laboratory animal facilities.