Salmonella typhimurium infection in guinea pigs: observations on monitoring and control.

A spontaneous outbreak of salmonellosis in a guinea pig colony was caused by Salmonella typhimurium. A simple, comprehensive monitoring procedure, consisting of mass fecal sampling, was developed. Using the monitoring system described, the disease was eliminated by: 1) removal of animals in pens in contact with Salmonella, and 2) strict hygienic procedures. It was not necessary to depopulate the colony in order to control the disease.