Quantitative evaluation of mycobacterial concentration in organs and fluids of Experimentally infected hamster with Mycobacterium bovis, strain AN 5

Abstract

Tuberculosis in hamsters induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of Mycobacterium bovis strain AN 5 was described through bacteriological and histopathological examinations performed at I. 15, 29 and 45 days after infection. The bacterial growth was observed in spleen, kidneys, liver and lungs of those infected animals, inducing granulomatous lesions. One day after the inoculation spleen harboured more bacteria than any other examined organs and at 45 days after infection bacterial counts difference was detected only among the spleen and the kidney, with higher counts to the spleen. Two bacteremic phases were observed and the mycobacterium was always isolated from peritoneal fluid. The weight of those infected animals was markedly decreased due to disease and death occurred 50.6 days in average after the infection.