TYPHLOHEPATITIS IN HAMSTERS INFECTED PERORALLY WITH TYZZERS ORGANISM

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (5) , 309-324
Abstract
Tyzzer''s organisms from a hamster were administered perorally to 6-8 wk old APG hamsters. The growth of organisms and lesions produced in the intestine and the liver was studied. When cortisone was given after oral infection with .gtoreq. 2 .times. 105 organisms, most animals died in 4-7 days showing severe necrotic lesions in the liver; no diarrhea was observed. Without cortisone, watery diarrhea was seen 2-7 days after infection; some animals died in 7-13 days. Dead and surviving animals had milder liver lesions than those with cortisone treatment. Two days after inoculation with or without cortisone, organisms were found within mucosal epithelial cells of the cecum and colon, and 1 or 2 days later when focal necrosis occurred in the liver, they were also found in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Inoculated into a ligated cecal sac, organisms multiplied in epithelial cells and the lamina propria of the ligated sac, and produced hepatic lesions in 3-4 days when bacterial growth was not detected at any other parts of intestines. Organisms might gain access to the liver from the cecum via the portal circulation or lacteals.