GRANULOMATOUS ENTERITIS CAUSED BY MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM IN A FERRET

Granulomatous enteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium was diagnosed in a pet ferret evaluated for anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Delayed gastric emptying was identified during barium sulfate contrast radiogr aphy A constriction in the duodenum, which was an area of granulomatou s inflammation on histologic examination, was surgically removed. Afte r removal of this lesion, the ferret did well for 8 months, but clinic al signs returned. At a second surgery, a nodule was removed from the pylorus. The ferret died 2 weeks later. At necropsy, granulomatous inf lammation, with acid-fast organisms, was found in the pylorus, small i ntestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Mycobacterium avi um was isolated from specimens of liver and spleen. Ferrets can develo p clinical disease caused by M avium, and infected ferrets may pose pu blic health threats.