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Proliferative colitis in ferrets
American Journal of Veterinary Research
|May 1, 1982
Summary
A bacterial infection caused proliferative colitis in ferrets, leading to severe diarrhea and colon thickening. This condition in Mustela putorius shares similarities with intestinal diseases in swine and hamsters.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Prolonged diarrhea affected 31 of 156 ferrets in a research setting.
- Clinical signs included mucohemorrhagic feces, anorexia, and weight loss.
Observation:
- Gross examination revealed a thickened descending colon.
- Histopathology showed mucosal hyperplasia, inflammation, and gland penetration into deeper layers.
Findings:
- Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni was identified in 6 of 9 affected ferrets.
- Organisms resembling Campylobacter spp were visualized within hyperplastic colonic epithelium via electron microscopy.
Implications:
- This study characterizes a novel proliferative colitis in ferrets.
- The findings provide insights into comparative pathology of intestinal diseases in mammals.