Pyelonephritis in the mouse. I. Infection experiments.

Abstract

SummaryMice were inoculated intravenously with one of 6 Gram-negative bacilli. Kidneys were removed at intervals for gross examination and culture. A aero genes and E. coli were the least lethal and gave no visible damage during 21 days of observation. K. pneumoniae was the most virulent but did not produce gross lesions. P. morgani was more lethal than P. mirabilis, but the latter resulted in a higher percentage of gross damage. Ps. aeruginosa resembled P. mirabilis in virulence but resulted in more kidney damage, and slightly lower per cent of positive cultures. In P. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa mice examined over a period of a year there was no mortality after the first 2 weeks. Gross damage persisted while cultures became sterile at about 200 days for Ps. aeruginosa and 260 days for P. mirabilis. Urea N levels rose gradually from a normal value of 17-20 mg% as infection progressed, but there was no correlation with damage or positive cultures.The competent assistance of Arthur Girard is gratefully ac...