Abstract
The ability of intravenous injections of single and mixed cultures of streptococci of types A, C, D, E, G, and N, of S. viridans and of E. rhusiopathiae of serotypes A and B, to cause endocarditis in rats was tested. A mixed culture of three strains of Erysipelothrix was particularly effective, especially in male rats, whereas in all the other experiments, bacterial endocarditis seldom occurred. The endocarditis was a consequence of vasculitis and myocarditis. In most cases of valvular endocarditis subendothelial edema caused detachment of endothelial cells and provided the environment for bacterial colonisation of the valves.
