Invasion by Shigella sonnei of Tissues of Mice Following Gavage with Viable Shigella. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Shigella sonnei, when given by gavage to white mice, invaded beyond the walls of the gastrointestinal tract; were found within 5 to 30 minutes in cultures of spleens, livers, kidneys, central mesenteric glands, lungs and hearts of the majority of mice; and were seldom cultured from these tissues after 2 hours from the time of gavage. The Shigella were found most often in cultures of the central mesenteric glands and least often in cultures of tail blood.

The number of viable Shigella and the weight of the mice were factors influencing the invasion by the Shigella from the gastrointestinal tract. The minimal number of viable Shigella which, when given by gavage, invaded beyond the gastrointestinal tract, was 150 million for mice weighing 17 to 18 g and 13 million for mice weighing 8 to 11 g.