Morphology of experimental antibiotic-associated enterocolitis in the hamster: A model for human pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Abstract

The morphology of antibiotic-associated enterocolitis in the hamster is described and compared with human antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. It is shown to be a cecal disease with proliferative mucosal changes and in this respect unlike the human counterpart. The bacteriology and toxicology, however, are identical. In addition, mucosal changes are described in animals on antibiotics but without established enterocolitis. As a result it is suggested that there may be a spectrum of human disease ranging from mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea to established pseudomembranous colitis. Therefore, despite the morphological variation, the hamster remains a good model for investigating the pathogenesis of pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic-associated enteropathy in general.