Proliferative colitis in a pet ferret

A 4-month-old male ferret was examined because of mucus-laden diarrhea of several days' duration. The diarrhea became bloody and the ferret became progressively anorexic and lost weight. Treatment with antibiotics did not result in amelioration of clinical signs. A biopsy specimen was obtained from the colon, which was thick and turgid. Proliferative colitis associated with Campylobacter sp infection was diagnosed histologically. Because of the poor prognosis and potential zoonotic hazard associated with Campylobacter, the ferret was euthanatized.