Campylobacter-like omega intracellular antigen in proliferative colitis of ferrets.

Proliferative colitis in the ferret consistently displays, along with marked proliferation of mucosal cells, intracytoplasmic campylobacter-like organisms within the apical portion of the epithelial cells. Fluorescent antibody to "omega" campylobacter antigen present in porcine intestinal adenomatosis and hamster proliferative ileitis was demonstrated at the site of bacterial colonization within hyperplastic epithelial cells of six colons from ferrets affected with proliferative colitis.