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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
Published on: February 19, 2013
Association of human enteric pathogenicity and mouse lung toxicity of Escherichia coli
Abstract:
Mouse lung toxicity of 439 strains (431 Escherichia coli, 1 Shigella dysenteriae 1, 1 Enterobacter cloacae, 5 Vibrio sp., 1 Klebsiella) was compared to other pathogenicity tests (mouse virulence, enterotoxicity, guinea pig eye test), to serogroup distribution, loss of virulence on storage, origin and haemolytic activity. Mouse lethality was highest in serogroup O4 (p < 0.001), O18a,c (p < 0.001); serogroups O6, O20, O75, O115, O147 were next in order. E. coli serogroups O19, O26, O28a,b, O32, O51, O53, O55, O73, O78, O79, O83, O105, O111, O112, O114, O117, O119, O124, O129, O136, O142 failed to show lung toxicity. Strains O4 and O18 isolated at different periods of time did not differ significantly in the lung test (p = 0.05, p = 0.01, p > 0.1, p = 0.05, p > 0.1). There was no significant difference between strains isolated from the stools of patients with enteritis and of healthy individuals (p = 0.1, p > 0.99) and between those isolated from all faecal specimens and from extraintestinal samples (p = 0.05, p > 0.3). There was no correlation between lung toxicity and other pathogenicity tests. Since strains isolated from healthy individuals were also toxic for mice, a positive lung test cannot be considered a criterion of the aetiological role of the agent.
Insights
Mouse lung toxicity was assessed in various bacterial strains, with serogroups O4 and O18 showing the highest lethality. A positive lung toxicity test in mice does not definitively indicate an etiological role in disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Pathogen Analysis
Background:
- Bacterial lung toxicity is a significant concern in infectious disease research.
- Understanding the pathogenicity of bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, is crucial for diagnostics and treatment.
- Various tests exist to assess bacterial virulence, but their correlation requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mouse lung toxicity of bacterial strains with other pathogenicity tests.
- To determine the correlation between lung toxicity, serogroup distribution, and other virulence factors.
- To evaluate the diagnostic significance of mouse lung toxicity for identifying etiological agents.
Main Methods:
- Assessed mouse lung toxicity in 439 bacterial strains (including Escherichia coli, Shigella, Enterobacter, Vibrio, and Klebsiella).
- Compared lung toxicity results with mouse virulence, enterotoxicity, guinea pig eye test, serogroup, storage stability, origin, and hemolytic activity.
- Analyzed data for significant differences based on serogroup, isolation source, and time.
Main Results:
- Mouse lethality was highest in serogroups O4 and O18a,c, followed by O6, O20, O75, O115, and O147.
- Numerous E. coli serogroups did not exhibit lung toxicity.
- No significant correlation was found between mouse lung toxicity and other pathogenicity tests, nor between strains from healthy individuals and patients.
Conclusions:
- Mouse lung toxicity varies significantly among bacterial serogroups, with O4 and O18 being particularly virulent.
- A positive mouse lung toxicity test alone is insufficient to establish an etiological role for a bacterial agent.
- Further research is needed to refine pathogenicity assessments and diagnostic criteria for bacterial infections.
