Which organism would not cause enteritis in hamsters? (Alternate phrasing)

• A. Clostridium spp.
• B. Helicobacter spp.
• C. Lawsonia intracellularis
• D. Mycoplasma spp.

Answer: (D)

Organisms have preferred sites of infection, and in hamsters certain bacteria target the gut while others mainly affect the respiratory tract. Clostridium species can provoke intestinal inflammation and enteritis; Helicobacter species are associated with gastric and enteric inflammation; Lawsonia intracellularis causes proliferative enteropathy in the intestines. Mycoplasma species, however, are best known as respiratory pathogens in hamsters (such as Mycoplasma pulmonis) and are not typically a cause of enteritis. So the organism that would not cause enteritis in hamsters is Mycoplasma spp.