A Study of the Route of Dissemination of Orally Administered Spores of Clostridium novyi Type B in Guinea-pigs and Sheep*

Abstract

An experimental study of the route of dissemination of orally administered spores of Clostridium novyi (oedematiens) type Β in normal guinea-pigs and sheep has shown that in both these hosts the organisms can he recovered from the mesenteric lymph glands within 12 h of administration and also from the liver and spleen within 24 h of administration. Organisms were never recovered from the heart blood, portal vein or kidneys. On one occasion, in one guinea-pig, organisms were recovered from a peritoneal wash 12 h after administration of the spores. These results suggest that the organisms are disseminated from the intestine by the lymphatic system rather than by the portal vein or the systemic blood system.