EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION WITH YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA SEROVAR-0 8 IN BEAGLE DOGS/

Dogs were challenged orally with Yersinia enterocolitica serovar 0:8 b iovar 1 for assessment of the infectivity of 0:8 bacteria. The bacteri a were shed in the feces for 7-21 days following oral challenge. They were also recovered from intestinal contents and small intestinal Peye r' a patches, but not from deeper organs of dogs euthanized 3 and 7 da ys after oral challenge. Dogs challenged subsequently with 10(10) bact eria showed protection from establishment of the bacteria in the intes tinal tract. High titers of serum O-agglutinins developed in the dogs challenged with the bacteria. No clinical or hematological abnormaliti es were observed. The possibility that dogs may be a source of infecti on of 0:8 bacteria to human is discussed.