EXPERIMENTAL COLONIZATION OF MICE WITH CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI

The ability of one human and two chicken strains of Campylobacter jeju ni to colonise and survive in three different strains of laboratory mi ce (NMRI, CBA and C57-Black) was studied. Mice were inoculated orally with Campylobacter jejuni and faeces samples were cultured at regular intervals during the following months. The length of colonisation of m ice differed between mouse strains but also between Campylobacter stra ins. The mouse strain C57-Black was not colonised with C. jejuni to th e same degree as the other mouse strains. It is concluded that mice ca n become colonised for prolonged periods and that they may act as rese rvoirs of Campylobacter for other species.