A New Method for the Production of Experimental Bacterial Endocarditis

Abstract

Bacterial endocarditis may be induced readily in rats exposed 4 hrs. daily to simulated high altitude (25,000 ft.). 26 of 44 altitude rats, but only 1 of 39 non-altitude controls, developed bacterial endocarditis after intraven. injns. of Streptococcus mitis, S. sanguis and S. bovis obtained from human cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis. Endocarditis was found in 20 of 26 altitude rats and in 7 of 14 non-altitude controls injected with S. faecalis. The incidence of endocarditis and the character of the lesions in other organs varied with the species of streptococcus used. Altitude rats may possibly be used to study the reaction and to test the effectiveness in vivo of various therapeutic measures against specific strains of organisms causing bacterial endocarditis in man. Exposure to altitude may be a useful exptl. method for rendering resistant species of animals susceptible to some diseases other than endocarditis.