Multiple peracute deaths in a colony of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Disease Problems of Small Rodents

“…It is caused by the intracellular bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, which is also responsible for proliferative enteropathy in pigs and ferrets. 39 Detection of C. difficile by PCR is highly sensitive and can discriminate between toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of the organism by detecting its toxin-producing genes. Several antibiotic treatments are recommended, including tetracycline-hydrochloride (400 mg/L of drinking water for 10 days), tetracycline (10 mg/kg PO q12h for 5-7 days), enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg PO or IM q12h for 5-7 days), and trimethoprim-sulfa combination (30 mg/kg PO q12h for 5-7 days).…”

Biology and Diseases of Hamsters

“…CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE Enteritis associated with this bacterium has been linked to inappropriate antibiotic administration (i.e., antibiotic-associated enteritis), stress, experimental manipulation, and heavy environmental contamination with C. difficile (Ryden et al, 1991;Rehg and Lu, 1982;Blankenship-Paris et al, 1995b). Affected hamsters may vary in age from juveniles to adults (Hart et al, 2010). C. difficile can also cause disease in hamsters unrelated to antibiotic use.…”

“…The development of antibodies against the virulence factors, toxins A and B, has proved useful in preventing disease relapse and subsequent reinfections in hamsters (Kink and Williams, 1998). Control of an outbreak of C. difficile-associated disease may be accomplished by depopulation, decontamination of animal holding rooms with chlorine dioxide, and repopulation (Hart et al, 2010).…”

Gastrointestinal Disease in Exotic Small Mammals

“…Clostridium difficile has been described as the primary causative agent of GI disease in hamster colonies. 91 C. difficile is a highly diverse, Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium. Detailed data concerning the prevalence of subclinical carriers in many species, including the Syrian hamster, is lacking.…”

“…92 Affected hamsters often die from diarrhea due to typhlitis and colitis or without any obvious clinical signs of disease. 91,93 Lesions are predominantly cecal, with occasional involvement of the ileum or colon. 91 The cecum is often distended by fluid, with multiple petechial to ecchymotic hemorrhages of the cecal wall.…”