Prevalence, spatial distribution, and risk factors associated with pneumonic lesions in weaning guinea pigs from Pasto, Colombia.

The guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, is a key mammal in rural areas of some Andean countries, such as Colombia, where it serves as an important source of food with high nutritional value, thereby strengthening food security and improving rural quality of life. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of pneumonic patterns in weaning guinea pigs in the region of Pasto (Nariño), Colombia, the disease spatial distribution by the districts of Pasto, and the risk factors associated with the disease occurrence. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in three-week-old guinea pigs (n = 270) from 71 farms distributed across 14 Pasto districts. Samples were taken for histopathological evaluation of the respiratory system to search for histopathological lesions compatible with pneumonia. The diagnosis of pneumonia was established in 73.7% of the study population. The districts of Socorro and Encano had a proportion of pneumonia greater than 79%. The farm size > 100 animals (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.08-4.16), density of animals per cage, increases the odds of pneumonia. The biosecurity measures: facility washing (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.06-0.52) and disinfection of farm facilities (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.23-0.92) reduce the odds of pneumonia. The odds of pneumonia were lower (OR 0.04; 95% CI 0.05-0.43) in farms located at an altitude of 2200 to 2600 mts. Pneumonia constitutes an important pathology in the region of Pasto, Colombia. These findings highlight the need to conduct research to determine causality and preventive measures for the management of respiratory disease in the guinea pig.