Figure 2.

Kinetics of bacterial replication of M. bovis within C3HeB/FeJ mice and associated morbidity. A Survival curve of C3HeB/FeJ mice following intranasal infection with M. bovis AF2122/97 (n = 43). The dotted red line delimitates the critical early phase of infection (week 5). B Bacterial growth curve in the lung of C3HeB/FeJ mice following intranasal infection. Data are presented as mean log₁₀ CFU ± s.e.m (n = 5 to 8 mice per time point). The dotted red line delimitates the critical early phase of infection (week 5). C Focus on the early phase of infection (0 to 5 weeks) showing the positive correlation of animal total body weight loss with pulmonary bacterial burden (Spearman’s correlation indexes: r = 0.72 & **p < 0.003). End point body weight was taken prior euthanasia and compared to the maximal weight of the animal during the course of the experiment and lung bacterial load are expressed as log₁₀ CFU. Mice were euthanized between 21 and 35 days post-infection (n = 15). D Bacterial burden in lung-draining lymph node (left graph), spleen (middle graph) and Liver (1 lobe, right graph) of C3HeB/FeJ mice following intranasal infection. Data are presented as mean log₁₀ CFU ± s.e.m (n = 5 to 8 per time point).