Campylobacter hyointestinalis-associated enteritis in Moluccan rusa deer (Cervus timorensis subsp. Moluccensis)

A morphological and bacteriological study on a Campylobacter hyointestinalis-associated enteritis in adult Moluccan rusa deer is described. Necropsied deer were 2 to 2.5 years of age and had been scouring for 1 to 2 months. There was distension of the ileum and excessive corrugation of the mucosa. Microscopic lesions in the small intestine were confined to the ileum. Stunting and fusion of villi, patchy erosion of epithelium and a predominantly neutrophilic infiltrate were features. The inflammatory reaction in caecum and colon was much less severe. Light and scanning electron-microscopical examination of small and large intestine showed large numbers of Gram-negative curved rods colonizing surface mucus and moderate numbers in close association with gland epithelium. No salmonellae or other enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated on aerobically-incubated media. C. hyointestinalis was isolated from the faeces, ileum, caecum, colon and mesenteric lymph nodes from 2 cases and one farm-collected faecal sample.