BACKGROUND Ketosis is a metabolic disorder often triggered by anorexia in animals fed on high energy diets. Although mostly described in pregnant female guinea pigs, under the name of pregnancy toxicosis; there is limited information on ketosis in males and non-pregnant females, often presented to clinics with anorexia or inappetence. The objective of this study was to observe progression of ketosis in guinea pigs, document the changes and evaluate diagnostic methods and a therapeutic approach. RESULTS Twenty eight adult guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), castrated males and intact females of obese and slim body condition were fasted for 3 days and refed afterwards. The slim animals served as control group for body condition. Either slim and fat animals were divided into two treatment groups: half of them received fluid replacements with glucose subcutaneously, the other half did not receive any injection and served as treatment control. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate, and urine acetoacetate and acetone were measured during and after fasting. Serum ALT, bile acids and liver histology were also analyzed after 7 days of refeeding (and therapy). Females and obese guinea pigs showed a significantly higher increase in ketone bodies in serum and urine. Obese, female, or animals not receiving therapy needed more time to regulate ketone bodies to normal levels than slim animals, males or animals receiving therapy. Liver histology revealed increased hepatocyte degeneration and higher glycogen content in obese animals and animals receiving therapy, and additionally more glycogen content in males. Only minor hepatic fat accumulation was documented. Bile acids showed good correlation to histological liver changes whereas ALT did not. CONCLUSIONS Female and obese animals react more intensively to fasting. As preventive management, animals should be kept in adequate body condition, fasting should be avoided, and anorexia should be treated immediately. In such a case, urinary dip sticks to detect ketone bodies are a useful diagnostic tool. Glucose therapy leads to faster cessation of ketogenesis and should be recommended in cases of ketosis. However, it needs to be adjusted to avoid hepatocyte glycogen overload and degeneration. Measuring bile acids presents a valuable indicator of liver damage.

中文翻译：

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非体重和非泌乳豚鼠的酮症的发展，诊断和治疗。

背景技术酮症是一种代谢紊乱，通常是由高能量饮食喂养的动物的厌食引起的。尽管大多描述于妊娠雌性豚鼠，但以妊娠中毒为名；男性和非怀孕女性的酮症信息很少，通常会出现厌食症或食欲不振的情况。这项研究的目的是观察豚鼠的酮症进展，记录其变化并评估诊断方法和治疗方法。结果肥胖和苗条身材的成年豚鼠（Cavia porcellus），雄性去势雄性和雌性成年雌性共28只，禁食3天，之后进行检查。苗条的动物作为身体状况的对照组。苗条和肥胖的动物被分为两个治疗组：其中一半接受皮下葡萄糖置换液治疗，另一半未接受任何注射并作为治疗对照。禁食期间和禁食后分别测量血清β-羟基丁酸酯，尿液乙酰乙酸酯和丙酮。喂食（和治疗）7天后，还分析了血清ALT，胆汁酸和肝组织学。雌性和肥胖豚鼠的血清和尿液中酮体的增加明显更高。与苗条的动物，雄性或接受治疗的动物相比，肥胖，雌性或未接受治疗的动物需要更多的时间将酮体调节至正常水平。肝脏组织学研究表明，肥胖动物和接受治疗的动物肝细胞变性增加，糖原含量更高，雄性动物糖原含量更高。仅记录了少量肝脂肪积累。胆汁酸与肝组织学变化显示出良好的相关性，而ALT没有。结论雌性和肥胖动物对禁食的反应更加强烈。作为预防措施，应使动物保持适当的身体状况，应避免禁食，并应立即治疗厌食症。在这种情况下，用于检测酮体的尿浸量尺是有用的诊断工具。葡萄糖疗法可更快地终止生酮作用，在有酮症的情况下应推荐使用。但是，需要进行调整以避免肝细胞糖原超载和变性。测量胆汁酸是肝损伤的重要指标。动物应保持适当的身体状况，应避免禁食，并应立即治疗厌食症。在这种情况下，用于检测酮体的尿浸量尺是有用的诊断工具。葡萄糖疗法可更快地终止生酮作用，在有酮症的情况下应推荐使用。但是，需要进行调整以避免肝细胞糖原超载和变性。测量胆汁酸是肝损伤的重要指标。动物应保持适当的身体状况，应避免禁食，并应立即治疗厌食症。在这种情况下，用于检测酮体的尿浸量尺是有用的诊断工具。葡萄糖疗法可更快地终止生酮作用，在有酮症的情况下应推荐使用。但是，需要进行调整以避免肝细胞糖原超载和变性。测量胆汁酸是肝损伤的重要指标。