title: Experimental acute respiratory Burkholderia pseudomallei infection in BALB/c mice.
abstract: Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, which is considered a potential deliberate release agent. The objective of this study was to establish and characterise a relevant, acute respiratory Burkholderia pseudomallei infection in BALB/c mice. Mice were infected with 100 B. pseudomallei strain BRI bacteria by the aerosol route (approximately 20 median lethal doses). Bacterial counts within lung, liver, spleen, brain, kidney and blood over 5 days were determined and histopathological and immunocytochemical profiles were assessed. Bacterial numbers in the lungs reached approximately 10(8) cfu/ml at day 5 post-infection. Bacterial numbers in other tissues were lower, reaching between 10(3) and 10(5) cfu/ml at day 4. Blood counts remained relatively constant at approximately 1.0 x 10(2) cfu/ml. Foci of acute inflammation and necrosis were seen within lungs, liver and spleen. These results suggest that the BALB/c mouse is highly susceptible to B. pseudomallei by the aerosol route and represents a relevant model system of acute human melioidosis.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, UK. mslever@dstl.gov.uk
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lever
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stagg
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beedham
authors.forename: Andrew J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols