Granulomatous enteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium in a ferret.

Granulomatous enteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium was diagnosed in a pet ferret evaluated for anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Delayed gastric emptying was identified during barium sulfate contrast radiography. A constriction in the duodenum, which was an area of granulomatous inflammation on histologic examination, was surgically removed. After removal of this lesion, the ferret did well for 8 months, but clinical signs returned. At a second surgery, a nodule was removed from the pylorus. The ferret died 2 weeks later. At necropsy, granulomatous inflammation, with acid-fast organisms, was found in the pylorus, small intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Mycobacterium avium was isolated from specimens of liver and spleen. Ferrets can develop clinical disease caused by M avium, and infected ferrets may pose public health threats.