Fimbriae of salmonella typhimurium and Their Role in Mouse Intestinal Colonization of the Organism

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Abstract
In mice given orally 103-107 cells of a fimbriate descendant of S. typhimurium, the organism localized in between the middle to lowest parts of the small intestine and large intestine, especially in the walls 1-3 days postadministration. Thereafter, the organism multiplied in the tracts significantly. With the increase of inoculating doses, remarkable multiplication of the organism in the tracts was shown. The recovery of the organism from the mesenteric lymph node, liver or spleen with or without gross lesions was found 3-5 days after administration; the liver harbored 102-107/g organisms between 5-14 days. A mouse given 105 cells died of sepsis on the 6th day; 7 mice received 107 cells within 6-13 days. The O, H and fimbrial antibodies were found in the mice from the 7th day. In mice given a non-fimbriate descendant, no evidence was shown to prove the colonization of the organism in the digestive tracts. A few mice given 105-107 cells produced O and H antibodies against the organism. It was reconfirmed that mice inoculated i.p. with fimbriate and non-fimbriate descendants gave almost the same LD50 value as reported previously. By scanning electron microscopy, fimbriate organisms were found to adhere to the epithelial surface of the villi (in vitro); non-fimbriate organisms were not seen on the mucosal surface. The fimbriae may play a role in the colonization of Salmonella organisms in the intestinal mucosa.