A RAT MODEL OF INFECTION BY SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM OR SALM-ENTERITIDIS

Salmonellosis in the rat has many similarities with the disease in hum ans, with the ileum thought to be the main site of colonization/invasi on in both species. Thus, the rat may be a useful way to study the mec hanism of infection by these pathogenic bacteria. A series of infectio n trials carried out with Hooded Lister rats showed that a salmonella infection persisted for an extended period of time and that the salmon ellae bind to the small intestinal epithelium as early as 4 h after in tragastric intubation. Reinfection from the large intestine may not th erefore initially play a significant role in the salmonella infection process. The rat model may therefore provide a means to test in vivo i nterventionist strategies, designed to block binding of the pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract.