Abstract
The possible causal relationship of the intestinal bacterial flora in agranulocytic angina has not been investigated. We carried out bacteriological examinations of stool specimens of a human case and recovered together with other of the intestinal microorganisms, cultures of B. enteritidis, Streptococcus hemolyticus and B. welchii. This paper deals with the results of animal inoculation with these cultures.
B. enteritidis. Six guinea pigs were injected, 2 subcutaneously, 2 intraperitoneally, and 2 intracardially, with 1 cc. each, of a saline suspension of this strain. Neutrophilic leucocytosis resulted and the animals died in 24 to 72 hours.
Three guinea pigs were fed with oats contaminated with stools containing B. enteritidis, and over the food of 3 guinea pigs suspensions of recovered culture were poured. After 6 weeks, including repeated leucocytic counts, no appreciable effects of such feedings were noted.
Two guinea pigs were injected, 1 intracardially and 1 intraperitoneally with the filtrate of broth cultures and increase of total and granulocytic leucocytes resulted.
In previous work upon production of lesions of experimental typhoid fever in the guinea pig with in vivo prepared toxic products of B. typhosus, 1 , 2 it had been noted that a marked leukopenia resulted. No observations upon the granulocytes were made. We employed this method in the present work. A fatal peritonitis is primarily produced and the resultant exudative materials including toxins and saline washings of the peritoneal cavity were collected and filtered through a Berkefeld or Seitz-Wertz filter. A modified toxic moiety is procurable. Fifteen guinea pigs were injected by this method, employing the B. enteritidis isolation. The toxic filtrate was administered in doses of 1 to 5 cc. subcutaneously, intraperitoneally and intracardially. The intraperitoneal and intracardial routes and the larger doses were more effective.
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