Guinea pigs
Previously, guinea pigs were largely used to diagnose human infectious diseases.
Samples taken from sick patients were given to guinea pigs to see if they became ill. However, this was many years ago. We now have better methods that do not require animals to establish a diagnosis. For this reason, among others, the use of guinea pigs as laboratory animals has decreased.
Guinea pigs easily develop allergic-type reactions and are used to study the immune system. Airways in guinea pigs react about the same as airways in humans when researchers expose the animals to allergy-triggering substances. Since their skin reacts in a way similar to human skin, guinea pigs play a role in skin research.
Guinea pigs are also used in research on hearing and hearing impairments, in part because the size of the inner ear in guinea pigs is suitable for such experiments.
Guinea pigs easily develop allergic-type reactions and are used to study the immune system. Airways in guinea pigs react about the same as airways in humans when researchers expose the animals to allergy-triggering substances. Since their skin reacts in a way similar to human skin, guinea pigs play a role in skin research.
Guinea pigs are also used in research on hearing and hearing impairments, in part because the size of the inner ear in guinea pigs is suitable for such experiments.
Except for monkeys, the guinea pig is the only laboratory animal that cannot produce vitamin C on its own. Just like humans they must obtain vitamin C from food to survive. This is one reason why vitamin C deficiency can be studied in guinea pigs.
Text: Karin Nordin
References
- John Bräutigam, veterinarian, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Helena Elofsson, Fil. Dr. Zoology, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Anne Halldén Waldemarson, University veterinarian at Karolinska Institutet
- Torgny Jeneskog, University veterinarian at Umeå university
- Karl-Gustav Jacobsson, University veterinarian at Uppsala university
Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
