Increased susceptibility of rabbits to intravenous challenge with Mycobacterium avium after mild hepatitis produced by carbon tetrachloride

A mild grade of liver damage in rabbits was produced by giving 23 subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride (CC14). The CCl4-treated rabbits and untreated controls were subsequently challenged with the mildly virulent strain of Mycobacterium avium Kirschberg (TMC 801). In two successive experiments it has been found that liver damage increased the susceptibility of rabbits to infection with this organism.