Extrapulmonary lesions of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in guinea pigs

A retrospective study of extrapulmonary disease in 17 guinea pigs with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection showed the most common to be either chronic active or acute fibrinopurulent pericarditis, pleuritis or peritonitis, or all three. In periparturient females the uterus was commonly affected. Hepatic and adrenal necrosis, splenitis, otitis media, encephalitis, lymphadenitis and ovarian abscesses also occurred. There were gram-positive diplococci in all lesions and Strep. pneumoniae, most often type 19, was cultured from tissues of 11 guinea pigs.