title: Comparative biological features of a rat liver abscess model induced with three Fusobacterium necrophorum strains.
abstract: Several biological features were compared in a rat liver abscess model, using intraportal inoculations with 3 bovine strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum which varied in virulence. Serum alanine aminotransferase activities were increased significantly (P less than 0.05) in rats inoculated with F necrophorum 2101 by postinoculation hours 6, 12, and 24. Thereafter, alanine aminotransferase values returned to base line for the remainder of the experiment. Also, rats inoculated with F necrophorum 2101 had a significantly greater (P less than 0.05) weight loss than did the control rats during the first 5 postinoculation days and developed leukocytosis characterized by a neutrophilia with a left shift. The duration of the bacteremia was related directly to the virulence of the F necrophorum strain. Fusobacterium necrophorum 2101, a biotype A which was the most virulent, induced the most persistent bacteremia; F necrophorum 2035, a biotype B which was the least virulent, produced the shortest bacteremia; and F necrophorum 2030, a biotype AB which was of intermediate virulence, led to bacteremia of intermediate duration. Plasma endotoxin was demonstrated intermittently during the first 24 hours, but did not correlate with the bacteremia.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006400:Hematocrit; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase