Duodenal adenomas in Balb/-c mice monoinfected with Clostridium perfringens

An outbreak of disease in multiparous females occurred in one isolator in a colony of Balb/-c germ-free mice. The affected isolator had been accidenta lly contaminated with Clostridium perfringens. Gross and histological exami nation of the diseased mice revealed lesions in the lungs, heart and intest inal tract. Lesions in the valvular endocardium and vascular walls were clo sely associated with bacterial colonies and septic thrombi containing Gram- positive rods. C perfringens type B was recovered in pure culture from the faeces, intestinal contents and atrial thrombi of the sick mice. Intestinal lesions varied, depending on the region of the intestine. The ileum showed shortened villi and ulceration of the mucosa. The duodenum of all the affe cted mice showed microscopic foci of polypoid adenomatous growth of the cry pt epithelium. The significance of these unusual neoplastic lesions is disc ussed in the context of the growing evidence of an association between cell growth and bacterial cell products. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.