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The etiology of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia
Abstract:
The etiology of a transmissable colonic mucosal hyperplasia of mice was investigated. Hyperplasia was produced in mice inoculated with unfiltered colonic suspension from affected mice, but infectivity was lost after passage through a 0.45 mum filter. The etiologic agent was subsequently identified as a variant of Citrobacter freundii. The organism induced colonic mucosal hyperplasia when inoculated into germfree mice, and it was recovered in pure culture from the affected animals.
Insights
A transmissible colonic mucosal hyperplasia in mice was caused by a specific variant of Citrobacter freundii. This bacterium was identified as the infectious agent responsible for the condition in affected mice.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Animal Pathology
Background:
- Colonic mucosal hyperplasia is a condition affecting mice.
- The cause of this transmissible hyperplasia was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiology of transmissible colonic mucosal hyperplasia in mice.
- To identify the causative agent responsible for the observed hyperplasia.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of mice with colonic suspensions from affected animals.
- Filtration of suspensions to assess infectivity (0.45 µm filter).
- Inoculation of germfree mice with the isolated agent and recovery in pure culture.
Main Results:
- Infectivity was maintained with unfiltered suspensions but lost after filtration.
- A variant of Citrobacter freundii was identified as the etiologic agent.
- Citrobacter freundii induced colonic mucosal hyperplasia in germfree mice and was recovered from them.
Conclusions:
- A specific variant of Citrobacter freundii is the causative agent of transmissible colonic mucosal hyperplasia in mice.
- This bacterium can induce the condition experimentally in germfree models.