An experimentally pathogenic Bacillus species. II. The pathogenicity of the organism for mice.
The pathogenic effects produced in mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a Bacillus species (OSU 372) are presented. This organism belongs to group 3 of the genus, and members of this group have not heretofore been shown to be pathogenic for mice even under experimental conditions. However, this organism is capable of producing a fatal involvement in doses which are not considered to be overwhelming. The mean lethal dose (LD50) of the organism for 20-25 g mice by the i.p. route is about 1 times 10-8 bacteria/mouse. A rapid drop in body temperature along with severe dehydration were noted in infected animals, and hematologic studies indicated that leukopenia and hemoconcentration also occurred. Although a transient septicemia developed, the bacteria could not be recovered from the tissues of fatally infected mice after a certain point in time. Results prevented indicate that the animals died of hypovolemic shock. A possible parallel with human bacillary infection is drawn.
D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001810:Blood Volume; D001831:Body Temperature; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology