Changes in the virulence of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG Phipps) in carbon tetrachloride treated mice

Mild grade of liver damage was produced in mice by repeated subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. These mice along with saline treated mice were challenged with an avirulent vaccine strain of BCG (Phipps), intravenously. The CCl4 treated, BCG challenged mice developed disease and died much earlier than the controls, indicating an increased susceptibility to the avirulent strain in mice with mild hepatitis.