Listeriosis in seven bushy-tailed jirds

Listeriosis was diagnosed in 7 bushy-tailed jirds (Sekeetamys calurus). Death in all cases was acute, and there were no clinical signs. Necropsy revealed necrotizing lesions in the liver, intestines, spleen, and hepatic and mesenteric lymph nodes. On histologic examination large numbers of gram-positive coccobacilli were seen in the lesions. Pneumonitis was seen in 6 jirds, and small numbers of bacteria were seen in the lungs in all cases except one. Diagnosis was based on bacterial culture of the liver in 2 jirds and on immunofluorescence of bacteria when tissue specimens from 2 other jirds were stained with fluorescein-labelled antiglobulins specific for Listeria monocytogenes.