Campylobacter colitis in ranch mink in Ontario

Abstract

Outbreaks of colitis, where Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the only pathogens isolated occurred in weanling mink (Mustella vision) on two commercial mink ranches in Ontario. Lesions were restricted to the proximal colon and were characterized by multiple 1 mm focal or 1 mm linear erosions/ulcers in the region 2 cm distal to the ileal-colonic junction. Histological changes included thickening of the colonic mucosa, inflammatory cell infiltrate in the lamina propria and submucosa, cellular debris and inflammatory exudate within cryptal lumens and multiple areas of mucosal erosion/ulceration. Four C. jejuni negative mink were challenged with 5.1 X 10(9) colony forming units of C. jejuni by oral inoculation. Three of four experimentally infected mink developed diarrhea by day 4 postinfection with lesions grossly and microscopically similar to mink in the naturally occurring outbreak. Examination of lesions by transmission electron microscope failed to show evidence of C. jejuni invasion of intestinal epithelium. Feeding uncooked slaughterhouse chicken offal was the likely source of C. jejuni in the naturally occurring outbreaks.