Chronic pyelonephritis was successfully produced in female BALB/c mice
with Escherichia coli after introduction of the bacterial inoculum by
the ascending route. E. coli strain 31-B, a nalidixic acid-resistant
derivative of strain TN675 expressing type-1 pill, and E. coli strain
BH-5, a mutant of 31-B, not expressing type-1 pill, were used in the m
odel. Both the strains were able to induce chronic renal inflammation
in the experimental animals. Whereas the initial colonisation was grea
ter with strain 31-B, its non-pilate mutant BH-5 caused a significantl
y greater inflammatory response and also caused renal scarring observa
ble 5 months after the infection.