Myopathy in guinea pigs.

Myopathy resembling nutritional muscular dystrophy occurred in a colony of 150 guinea pigs. Of 54 animals affected, 27 died. Major clinical signs were depression, conjunctivitis, and reluctance to move. Lesions were widespread throughout skeletal and cardiac musculature. Clinical signs and deaths ceased when the diet was changed to a different commercial ration. A single intramuscular injection of sodium selenite and alphatocopherol brought prompt remission of clinical signs in one group of 20 so treated.