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Also called 'wet tail'. Enteritis occurs most frequently in 2-3 week old hamsters and results primarily from colonisation of pathogenic bacteria but may signal one of several GI diseases. Enteritis is one of the most common and serious diseases found in laboratory hamsters and has between 20-60% morbidity and up to 90% mortality.  

Also called 'wet tail'. Enteritis occurs most frequently in 2-3 week old hamsters and results primarily from colonisation of pathogenic bacteria but may signal one of several GI diseases. Enteritis is one of the most common and serious diseases found in laboratory hamsters and has between 20-60% morbidity and up to 90% mortality.  

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General macroscopic pathology includes ileal thickening and enlargement at the terminal portion with roughened and reddened mucosa and serose, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, peritonitis, flaccid cecum with fetid watery contents and abdominal adhesions. In very advanced cases, small white spots are visible within the ileum together with serosal nodules.  

General macroscopic pathology includes ileal thickening and enlargement at the terminal portion with roughened and reddened mucosa and serosa, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, peritonitis, flaccid cecum with fetid watery contents and abdominal adhesions. In very advanced cases, small white spots are visible within the ileum together with serosal nodules.  

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Microscopic histopathology will include hyperplasia of the crypt epithelial cells, migration of immature epithelium into the villi, downward extension of the crypts through the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, Peyer's patches, muscularis externa and serosa. There will be necrosis of epithelial cells to a varying degree with haemorrhage, pyogranulomatous inflammation and crypt microabcesses.  

Microscopic histopathology will include hyperplasia of the crypt epithelial cells, migration of immature epithelium into the villi, downward extension of the crypts through the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, Peyer's patches, muscularis externa and serosa. There will be necrosis of epithelial cells to a varying degree with haemorrhage, pyogranulomatous inflammation and crypt microabcesses.  

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===Infectious Causes of Enteritis===

===Infectious Causes of Enteritis===

'''Clostridial Enteritis'''

'''Clostridial Enteritis'''