Comparison of the Golden Hamster to the Guinea Pig Following Inoculations of Virulent Tubercle Bacilli

Abstract

20 guinea pigs and 20 hamsters were injd. subcut. with the virulent human type tubercle bacillus, strain H37 Rv. Half of each group received a dose of 30,000 microorganisms and the other half 60,000. All were sacrificed after 120 days. The hamster proved highly resistant to the doses. 24 days after infection 0.1 ml. of 5% and 10% Old Tuberculin elicited no skin response. Hamsters are evidently of little or no value in routine diagnostic procedures for tuberculosis.