Studies in the Pathology and Pathogenesis of Experimental Brucellosis: I. A Comparison of the Pathogenicity of Brucella Abortus, Brucella Melitensis, and Brucella Suis for Guinea Pigs

Abstract

That the pattern of disease in exptl. brucellosis varies with the species of Brucella producing the infection was demonstrated by infecting guinea pigs with one of 18 strains of Brucella of known pathogenicity for man. An equal number of strains of each of the 3 spp. of Brucella comprised the total. The disease produced by B. abortus was characterized by little impairment of health, the presence of the non-suppurative granuloma, and marked splenomegaly. B. suis produced widespread destructive abscesses as well as moderate impairment of general health of the animal. B. melitensis was less destructive than B. suis but the most debilitating of the 3 spp. It appears significant, also, that the poor defense against B. melitensis was not accompanied by the consistent enlargement of the spleen observed in animals infected by B. abortus.