Latent Infection with Corynebacterium kutscheri in Mice after Peroral Inoculation and its Provocation by Cortisone

Abstract

Latent infection withCorynebaterium kutscheriin mice and its provocation by cortisone were studied with a rifampicin-resistant strain of the organism. Mice having been infected perorally began to excrete the organisms in feces within 6 hours, and most of them were found to be carrying the organisms in the intestine, especially in the cecum even 90 days after infection. In such state of latency, however, no organisms were detcted in other main organs, and neither visible lesions nor serum agglutinin was detectable. The latent infection with excretion of the organisms in feces after peroral infection was shown to become overt and fatal by cortisone treatment made even 90 days after infection. In infected mice excreting no organisms in feces and having bites on their skin, the wounds became severe ulcers after cortisone treatment resulting in septicemia.