The Chemotherapy Of Experimental Salmonella Choleraesuis Infection In Mice

An experimental model of S. choleraesuis infection was set up in mice to study the effects of therapy. Furazolidone was superior to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin or tylosin, as assessed by both mortalities and the carriage of salmonellae in the spleen. Furazolidone at 100 mg per kg daily for 7 days completely protected infected mice and eliminated the organism from the spleen. Apparent toxicity of furazolidone was observed in infected, but not in normal, mice with doses of 200 mg per kg daily for 7 days. The effects of dose rate, duration of treatment, and the time at which treatment was initiated were examined. A carrier state occurred in all groups treated with the antibiotics. When the spleen was examined at 24 hr after the last dose, falsenegative results were obtained compared with an examination 3 wk later. The possible reasons for this are discussed.