Failure to induce proliferative ileitis in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) by simultaneous infection with Campulobaclerjejuni and Escherichia coli

Conventionally bred golden hamsters (CH) and selectively decontaminated golden hamsters (DH) of a strain Han: AURA were experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) strain isolated from a case of proliferative ileitis and one of four Escherichia C011 (E. 6011) strains of either porcine or human origin (serovars 0124 0138 and 0143) Experimental infection was monitored 32 days post infectionem by watching the c1inica1 signs of diarrhoea by cultivation of the infective agents and by detection of specific IgG antibodies (indirect immunofluorescence technique). All animals infected with C. jejuni alone remained healthy. No combination of C. jejuni and E. coli led to enteritis and diarrhoea. The enteritis induced by mono-infeetion with l? 6011' 0138 1t+ showed histologic signs of an acute process unlikechanges characteristic for proliferative ileitis. Surprisingly, the addition of C. jejuni to this disease provoking E. coli strain prevented the disease.The results suggest that simultaneous infection withC. jejuni and E. coli is not the cause of pro: literative ileitis in hamsters. These findings support the results Stiils (1991) describing a new intracellular bacterium as a real etiologic agent of the disease

Granulomatous dermatitis and mastitis in two SPF rats associated with a slowly growing Staphylococcus aureus - a case report

An isolated occurence of multifocal severe granulomatous dermatitis and mastitis accompanied by extensive calfications is described in 2 female Sprague-Dawley, SPF breeding rats. Poorly growing Staphylococcus areus of uncertain lysotype (probably lysotype II) was isolated from the lesion of both rats. The source of infection could not be determined. No further cases in the closed barrier maintained breeding colony occured in the following 7 months. Difficulties in interpreting these findings and the practical cosequences relating to the hygenic status of the barrier breeding colony are discussed