ENTEROHEPATIC LESIONS IN SCID MICE INFECTED WITH HELICOBACTER-BILIS

Helicobacter bills is a recently identified species that colonizes the intestine and liver of mice. In immunocompetent mice, infections have been associated with mild hepatitis, and in immunocompromised mice, i nflammatory bowel disease has been induced by intraperitoneal inoculat ion of the organism. We report inoculation of 6-week-old C.B-17 scid/s cid mice by gastric gavage with approximately 10(7) H, bilis colony fo rming units. Groups of mice were euthanized and necropsied 12, 24, and 36 weeks after inoculation. Mild to moderate proliferative typhlitis was evident in all mice at 12 and 36 weeks after inoculation and in mo st mice 24 weeks after inoculation. Mild to severe chronic active hepa titis was detected in 10 of 10 male mice and 3 of 10 female mice. Thes e results indicate that H, bills can cause moderate to severe enterohe patic disease in immunocompromised mice.