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Acute enterocolitis:
Acute enterocolitis may have several causes depending
on the species affected. In this case the fibrinonecrotic pseudomembrane
formation on the mucosal surface of the intestine may implicate a small number of highly toxic pathogens of the intestinal
tract including Clostridia spp, Staphlococcus aureus and most commonly
Salmonella spp. Culture of fresh intestinal contents may yield a definitive
diagnosis, although this is not always the case. Salmonella infections
can range from peracutely lethal infections to chronic asymptomatic (carrier)
infections, thus positive culture does not always mean disease. Carrier
animals shed in times of stress and immune suppression and can therefore
infect susceptible animals. Common routes of infection include contaminated
feed and water. Salmonella species cause disease in a wide range of host
species including most domestic animals and humans (ie it is zoonotic).
 
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