TABLE 2.

Reproductive performance and effect on litter size and fetus resorption or weight in female BALB/c mice infected with B. birtlesii (infected mice) or with normal saline solution (noninfected mice)

Parameter	Noninfected mice	Infected mice	P
No. of females	20	20	NDf
No. of vaginal plugs	17	19	ND
No. of gravid females at time of cesarean section	15	14	ND
Total no. of fetusesa	110	91	ND
Mean no. of fetusesa/litter (range)	7.3 ± 1.8 (4–10)	6.5 ± 2.4 (3–10)	NSg
Mean wt (g) of 18-day-old fetusesb	1.09 ± 0.17	0.99 ± 0.16	<0.0002c
No. of mice with one resorption or more (%)	8 (53.3)	13 (92.9)	<0.0001d
No. of resorbed and/or dead fetuses (%)	16 (14.5)	33 (36.3)	<0.0001d
No. of positive cultures in fetal resorptions (%)	ND	16 (76c)	ND

^aThat is, viable, resorbed, and dead fetuses. 

^bThat is, viable fetuses only. 

^cStudent t test. 

^dChi-square test. 

^eA total of 16 of 22 fetal resorption cultures. 

^fND, not determined. 

^gNS, not significant.