INTRACELLULAR CAMPYLOBACTER-LIKE ORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH RECTAL PROLAPSE AND PROLIFERATIVE ENTEROPROCTITIS IN EMUS (DROMAIUS-NOVAEHOLLANDIAE)

Rectal prolapse was the presenting clinical finding in a group of juve nile emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Gross findings included severely thickened and rugose distal rectal mucosae. Histologically, there wer e thickened villi enterocyte hyperplasia, dilated glands filled with m ucus and heterophils, and a dense infiltrate of heterophils, macrophag es, lymphocytes, and plasma cells in the lamina propria. Examination o f Warthin-Starry silver-stained sections revealed numerous apically lo cated comma-shaped intracytoplasmic bacteria approximately 1 X 3 mu m in size. Campylobacter-like organisms morphologically compatible with ileal symbiont intracellularis now known as Lawsonia intracellularis w ere seen via electron microscopy. Bacteria were further characterized by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific fo r the 25-27-kd outer membrane protein of L. intracellularis.