PATHOGENIC ACTION OF ACTINOBACILLUS-ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS ON INBRED STRAINS OF MICE

The ability of fifty-seven Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain s to cause abscesses on inbred strains of mice raised with barriers in the ''Breeding Unit for Isogenic Mice'' of ICB/USP was tested. Mice w ere injected subcutaneously with the bacterial suspensions. Twenty-thr ee of the tested A. actinomycetemcomitans strains were found to cause the development of ulcerated and/or pus-filled abscesses in mice. Bact eria were recovered from all the injection sites, irrespective of absc ess formation.