DISTRIBUTION OF CORYNEBACTERIUM-RENALE AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY RATS

We examined the distribution of Corynebacterium renale, a causative ag ent of urinary calculus, in clinically normal rats at 6 animal facilit ies in Japan. Swabs of the vulva and vaginal vestibule or prepuce of t he rats were cultured for isolation of the organisms. C. renale has be en isolated at only one animal facility, where cases of urinary calcul us were reported several years ago. In this facility, 32% of female (4 3/135) and 22% of male (18/82) rats, 4-28 weeks old, were positive for C. renale. In contrast, 92 female and 169 male rats at other faciliti es without a history of the disease were negative for the organisms.