BMC Research Notes (Oct 2008)

BALB/c Mice resist infection with <it>Bartonella bacilliformis</it>

  • Manguiña Ciro,
  • Ventosilla Palmira,
  • Cok Jamie,
  • Torres Luis,
  • Valencia Roberto,
  • Merello Jenny,
  • Palma Sandra,
  • Villar Sandra,
  • Infante Beronica,
  • Guerra Humberto,
  • Henriquez Cesar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-1-103
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 1
p. 103

Abstract

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Abstract Background Bartonellosis due to Bartonella bacilliformis is a highly lethal endemic and sometimes epidemic infectious disease in South America, and a serious public health concern in Perú. There is limited information on the immunologic response to B. bacilliformis infection. The objective of this research was to produce experimental infection of BALB/c mice to B. bacilliformis inoculation. Findings BALB/c mice were inoculated with 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 × 108 live B. bacilliformis using different routes: intraperitoneal, intradermal, intranasal, and subcutaneous. Cultures of spleen, liver, and lymph nodes from one to 145 days yielded no cultivable organisms. No organs showed lesions at any time. Previously inoculated mice showed no changes in the reinoculation site. Conclusion Parenteral inoculation of live B. bacilliformis via different infection routes produced no macroscopic or microscopic organ lesions in BALB/c mice. It was not possible to isolate B. bacilliformis using Columbia blood agar from 1 to 15 days after inoculation.