NONTOXIGENIC VIBRIO-CHOLERAE O1 INTESTINAL PATHOLOGY IN ADULT MICE

The intestinal pathology caused by nontoxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 was examined in the sealed adult mouse (SAM) model. Histologic examinatio n demonstrated that a nontoxigenic V. cholerae O1 strain that elicited maximum fluid accumulation (FA) in the small intestine of adult mice caused damages to the villi and necrosis of lymphoid elements within s olitary submucosal lymphoid nodules in the Peyer's patches. Challenge of mice with a strain that did not elicit intestinal FA produced none of the above tissue responses. Increased FA activity, intestinal alter ations, and tissue pathology caused by the nontoxigenic V. cholerae O1 indicate it's pathogenic potential.