关键词: 鼠疫耶尔森菌, 组织病理学

Abstract:

Objective To investigate pathological changes in the major solid viscera of guinea pigs infected with the plague bacillus Yersinia pestis. Methods Adult guinea pigs were infected with a virulent Y. pestis strain (25 cfu/ml) through the groin subcutaneously. After infection, tissue specimens were immediately taken from dead animals, and the surviving ones were executed 14 d later. Specimens of solid viscera, including the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and heart, were used for isolation of Y. pestis, and section specimens were prepared to observe associated pathological changes. Results Yersinia pestis was isolated from the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and heart of the experimental animals after infection. Tissue autopsy revealed significant pathological changes in all solid viscera, and microscopic examination showed obvious pathological changes in the major organs other than the heart. There were acute inflammatory changes such as inflammatory cell increase, hyperemia, hemorrhage, and partial necrosis. Conclusion Virulent Y. pestis can cause acute inflammation in guinea pigs and result in significant pathological changes in solid viscera of the animals, including the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and heart.

Key words: Yersinia pestis, Histopathology