Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1976 May;13(5):1315–1320. doi: 10.1128/iai.13.5.1315-1320.1976

Experimental group B streptococcal infections in mice: hematogenous virulence and mucosal colonization.

D Furtado
PMCID: PMC420758  PMID: 773831

Abstract

A group B streptococcus recovered from a blood specimen from a neonate with sepsis was used to evaluate the use of mice for studies characterizing the hematogenous virulence and the asymptomatic mucosal colonization of the vagina or of the respiratory tract by these bacteria. When injected intravenously, the 50% lethal dose for mice was 10(6); however, as few as 10(2) organisms produced septic deaths. In mice undergoing water diuresis, bacteriuria and pyelonephritis were not produced after direct bladder inoculation of the streptococci. Asymptomatic vaginal colonizations that persisted for 12 days were produced in both pregnant and virgin mice. Vaginal colonization before delivery did not result in transmission of infection to litters or in protection against subsequent oropharyngeal colonization in the suckling mice. In mice born of nonexposed mothers, oropharyngeal colonization was produced in both suckling and 3-week-old weaned mice. Whereas infection persisted for 14 days in all suckling mice, clearance occurred in over 50% of the weaned mice by day 14. The use of mice for studies on the virulence of the group B streptococci as well as for studies on the pathogenesis of disease by virulent strains is discussed.

Full text

PDF
1316

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baker C. J., Barrett F. F. Transmission of group B streptococci among parturient women and their neonates. J Pediatr. 1973 Dec;83(6):919–925. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80524-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barton L. L., Feigin R. D., Lins R. Group B beta hemolytic streptococcal meningitis in infants. J Pediatr. 1973 Apr;82(4):719–723. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80605-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Christensen K. K., Christensen P., Grögaard J., Hjalt C. A. Fatal streptococcus group B meningitis in newborn twins. Scand J Infect Dis. 1974;6(4):361–363. doi: 10.3109/inf.1974.6.issue-4.12. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Eickhoff T. C., Klein J. O., Mortimer E. A., Jr, Wehrle P. F. Letter: The issue of prophylaxis of neonatal group B streptococcal infections. J Pediatr. 1973 Dec;83(6):1097–1100. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80569-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fischer G. W., Crumrine M. H., Jennings P. B. Experimental Escherichia coli sepsis in rabbits. J Pediatr. 1974 Jul;85(1):117–119. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(74)80306-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Franciosi R. A., Knostman J. D., Zimmerman R. A. Group B streptococcal neonatal and infant infections. J Pediatr. 1973 Apr;82(4):707–718. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80604-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Furtado D. Effect of diuresis on Staphylococcus aureus kidney infections in mice. Infect Immun. 1971 Dec;4(6):742–746. doi: 10.1128/iai.4.6.742-746.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Furtado D., Freedman L. R. Experimental pyelonephritis. XVI. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus infections in mice and the effect of "water diuresis". Yale J Biol Med. 1970 Dec;43(3):177–193. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Furtado D., Gorrill R. H. In-vivo effectiveness of the antibiotic colistin in preventing growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1968 Jul;96(1):65–76. doi: 10.1002/path.1700960108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GORRILL R. H., DENAVASQUEZ S. J. EXPERIMENTAL PYELONEPHRITIS IN THE MOUSE PRODUCED BY ESCHERICHIA COLI, PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA AND PROTEUS MIRABILIS. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1964 Jan;87:79–87. doi: 10.1002/path.1700870112. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gorrill R. H., Klyhn K. M., McNeil E. M. The initiation of infection in the mouse kidney after intravenous injection of bacteria. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1966 Jan;91(1):157–172. doi: 10.1002/path.1700910120. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOOD M., JANNEY A., DAMERON G. Beta hemolytic streptococcus group B associated with problems of the perinatal period. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1961 Oct;82:809–818. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(16)36146-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Handsfield H. H., Hodson W. A., Holmes K. K. Neonatal gonococcal infection. I. Orogastric contamination with Neisseria gonorrhoea. JAMA. 1973 Aug 13;225(7):697–701. doi: 10.1001/jama.225.7.697. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hey D. J., Hall R. T., Burry V. F., Thurn A. N. Neonatal infections caused by group B streptococci. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1973 May 1;116(1):43–47. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(73)90881-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Horn K. A., Meyer W. T., Wyrick B. C., Zimmerman R. A. Group B streptococcal neonatal infection. JAMA. 1974 Nov 25;230(8):1165–1167. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Klesius P. H., Zimmerman R. A., Mathews J. H., Krushak D. H. Cellular and humoral immune response to group B streptococci. J Pediatr. 1973 Dec;83(6):926–932. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80525-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. McCracken G. H., Jr The rate of bacteriologic response to antimicrobial therapy in neonatal meningitis. Am J Dis Child. 1972 Jun;123(6):547–553. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1972.02110120071004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Postel J., Schloerb P. R., Furtado D. Pathophysiologic alterations during bacterial infusions for the study of bacteremic shock. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1975 Nov;141(5):683–692. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wilkinson H. W., Facklam R. R., Wortham E. C. Distribution by serological type of group B streptococci isolated from a variety of clinical material over a five-year period (with special reference to neonatal sepsis and meningitis). Infect Immun. 1973 Aug;8(2):228–235. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.2.228-235.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Yow M. Editorial: Group B streptococci: a serious threat to the neonate. JAMA. 1974 Nov 25;230(8):1177–1178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES