Experimental infection of hamsters with Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of diarrhea and enterocolitis in humans and animals. A mammalian model has been developed for studying pathogenesis of the disease in hamsters by colonizing the ileum and cecum with C. jejuni via either oral intubation after purgation or direct surgical inoculation into the cecum. This colonization resulted in production of disease including diarrhea and intestinal lesions that resembles enterocolitis due to C. jejuni in humans and domestic animals. The mucosal lesions observed grossly at autopsy included erythema of the ileum and cecum and distention of the cecum with fluid. The cecal mucosa was edematous. Epithelial lesions observed by light microscopy included focal edema, occasional hyperplasia, diffuse hyperemia, and infiltration of the lamina propria with leukocytes. C. jejuni-like bacteria penetrated the epithelium and were observed within the lamina propria of infected animals but not in uninfected controls.