Experimental infection with Mycobacterium avium, serotype 2, in pigs. 1. Intravenous inoculations |
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Authors: | J B Jorgensen |
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Affiliation: | State Veterinary Serum Laboratory, Copenhagen, and the Tuberculosis Department, Statens Seruminstitut, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870 Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Abstract: | A porcine strain of Mycobacterium avium, Serotype 2, was used for intravenous inoculation of pigs in doses 5, 1, 10−1, 10−2 and 10−3 mg (1 mg = 78 × 106 viable units), 2 pigs per dose.Dose 5 mg proved fatal for both of the inoculated pigs, which were killed in extremis 64 and 69 days, respectively, after inoculation. Dose 1 mg caused clinical disease in 1 of 2 pigs, but was not lethal. Post mortem, the clinically affected pigs showed a generalized granulomatous tuberculosis. The other pig given 1 mg and the pigs given smaller doses, showed no clinical signs, and lesions and presence of acid-fasts were mostly limited to the lymph nodes of the lung, liver and digestive tract.All the pigs showed delayed hypersensitivity to avian PPD tuberculin (1000 t.u.) and some of them cross-reacted with human PPD tuberculin (1000 t.u.). The clinically affected pigs gave a very weak response to tuberculin, the others a strong response.The smallest dose capable of establishing an infection and producing tuberculous lesions was not determined, but seems to be less than 10−3 mg (78000 viable organisms). |
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Keywords: | Mycobacterium avium, Serotype 2 pathogenicity intravenous inoculation pigs. |
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