A histopathologic and immunofluorescence microscopic study of the pathogenesis of ulcerative enteritis in bobwhite quail

Abstract

The pathogenesis of the intestinal and hepatic lesions associated with Clostridium colinum infection in bobwhite quail was investigated. Experiments were performed utilizing different inocula and routes of exposure for a comparative study of the lesions of the disease. The clinical course of the disease and gross lesions observed are reported. The first histopathologic evidence of the development of lesions; within the intestine of experimentally infected quail was penetration of the epithelial brush border by C. colinum. These bacteria proliferated in colonies on the epithelial surface of the intestine causing the subjacent brush border to be denuded. They elicited a marked heterophilic response within the intestinal lamina propria as well as upon the epithelial surface. The lesions progressed as the bacteria continued to invade deeper into the intestinal mucosa until well developed ulcers were produced. The ulcers were present in some quail as early as 3 to 4 days following exposure to the infectious agent. The entire range of lesion types from the earliest to the terminal stage ulcers could be found within one infected intestine. No significant differences in the development of lesions was noted when animals from the various experimental groups were compared. ...