An animal model to study serum immunoglobulin response to infection by Yersinia enterocolitica

Using an Elisa method, we tested whether the serum immunoglobulin response of CBA/H mice, orally infected by a serotype 03 strain of Yersinia enterocolitica was of sufficient magnitude to serve as an experimental model. We found that the dose of bacteria administered was important. At a dose of 10(10)-10(12) bacteria per mouse, easily detectable IgM, IgG and IgA antibody titers could be obtained. At 10(8) bacteria per mouse, although diarrhea occurred and Yersinia was shed into the stool, the antibody titers were minimal.