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THE RELATION OF BACTERIUM PNEUMOSINTES TO INFLUENZA: A STUDY WITH A STRAIN OF THE ORGANISM DERIVED FROM THE
1Laboratories of the U. S. Army Medical School, Washington, D.C.
Abstract:
Nasopharyngeal washings from a case of epidemic influenza have proven capable of initiating a pathological change in rabbits and in guinea pigs characterized after an incubation period of 1 or 2 days, by some elevation of temperature, reduction in the number of circulating leucocytes, especially of the mononuclears, and by a pulmonary lesion during the period of reaction, which is distinguishable from those accidentally incurred at the time of death. From one such animal, in the second passage of the virus, an anaerobic coccobacius, corresponding in all respects to Bact. pneumosintes, was isolated by the method employed by Olitsky and Gates. This organism also proved capable of initiating the pathological change in animals found after inoculation with influenzal material. The observation of Olitsky and Gates that the presence of this organism in the lungs of experimental animals predisposes to pulmonary localization of other bacteria with the production of definite pneumonic lesions has been confirmed. Bact. pneumosintes infections may be induced by subcutaneous injection of infected material.
Insights
Researchers isolated the influenza-causing bacterium, Bact. pneumosintes, from infected animals. This organism replicates influenza
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Epidemic influenza can cause pathological changes in experimental animals.
- Previous research by Olitsky and Gates suggested a specific bacterium's role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify the causative agent of influenza from animal models.
- To confirm the role of the isolated bacterium in initiating influenza-like pathology.
- To validate previous findings on bacterial co-infection in pulmonary lesions.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of rabbits and guinea pigs with nasopharyngeal washings from influenza cases.
- Serial passage of the infectious agent in animals.
- Isolation of anaerobic coccobacillus using Olitsky and Gates' method.
- Subcutaneous injection of infected material to induce infection.
Main Results:
- Influenza washings induced fever, leukopenia (mononuclear reduction), and pulmonary lesions in animals.
- Bact. pneumosintes was isolated in the second passage and confirmed to cause similar pathological changes.
- Confirmed that Bact. pneumosintes predisposes experimental animals to secondary bacterial pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Bact. pneumosintes is identified as an agent capable of initiating influenza-like pathology in animals.
- The study validates the role of Bact. pneumosintes in influenza pathogenesis and secondary infections.
- Bact. pneumosintes infections can be established via subcutaneous inoculation.
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