Experimentally induced Bacteroides infections in the rabbit

Abstract

Rabbits were infected with Bacteroides fragilis, B. macacae and B. gingivalis in monoinfection, mixed Bacteroides infection, and mixed infection of B. gingivalis with Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Clostridium sporogenes. Monoinfection gave rise to localised, nodular abscesses at cell levels greater than 0.5 X 10(5) cfu ml-1, the severity of which was dose related. Mixed infections including B. gingivalis caused severe spreading lesions and affected organs distant from the injection site. Histopathological studies indicate an inflammatory response with gas vacuolation and local necrosis.