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Abstract
Pathogenic, and laboratory-derived non-adherent, non-motile, streptomycin-dependent and attenuated strains of Vibrio chulerae, were injected into the ileal loops of adult rabbits. The pattern of bacterial adherence and multiplication was studied. It was shown that all the strains multiplied to the same extent in the intestine; multiplication per se had no role in pathogenesis except when the infecting dose was low.
Vibrio strains differed in their capacity to adhere to the intestine. A good correlation was found between adherence and pathogenesis. While adhesive strains were pathogenic, the poorly adhesive strains proved to be poor pathogens. There was no trace of toxin in the ileal loops inoculated with poorly adhesive strains and very little in the diarrhoea1 fluid produced by pathogenic strains. Adhesive strains adhered poorly to the intestine of immunised animals. It is suggested that adherence is concerned in the release of toxin and thus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cholera.
- Received:
- Accepted:
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