Septicaemia and Enteritis, Bacterial

Bacterial septicaemia and enteritis

• Some severe acute septicaemias cause very severe acute haemorrhagic enteritis with bleeding into the alimentary tract.
• Death is usually rapid.
• Fairly easy to diagnose
  • small intestine is full of dark, tarry, partly clotted blood (like black currant jelly).
• Associated with severe systemic disease, e.g.
  • Anthrax in cattle (Bacillus anthracis).
  • Leptospirosis in dogs.
    • Especially L. icterohaemorrhagiae.
• Do not confuse with Anticoagulant Rodenticide Toxicity.
  • Also gives blood in stomach and intestine BUT there are no signs of inflammatory disease.