Biology_of_Mustelids_Vol_1.pdf

184.
Autopsy and bacteriological examination gave the following
results: spleen 2.5 x 0.6 cm;
liver with continuous fatty degeneration;
large pneumonic nodules in the lungs;
precipitation reaction negative;
B. tularense not found in the organ smears; all the cultures sterile.
On 30 January an organ suspension of ermine No.3 was used to
infect two white mice Nos. 21 and 22 which died on 7 February. ~.
tularense
found everywhere in the organ smears; pure culture isolated fro~ the
suspension.
Ermine 1\10.4. On 29 January fed on two white mice Nos.11 and 12
injected subcutaneously on 28 January with a 48-hr culture~.
tularense
9
with 10 bacterial cells per ml. On 1 February fed on white mouse No.16
infected on 30 January with the same dose of ~. tularense. The control
mice died after 1-3 days.
On 27 February fed on white mouse No.28 injected
the night before with a 48-hr culture of a strain of~.
tularense isolated
9
from ermine No.3 with 10 bacterial cells per ml. The control mouse died
on 27 February.
On 3 February the behaviour of the ermine changed:
it lay down
for long periods and ate with little relish.
By 12 February it was wor6e;
it lay practically all the time, lost weight and ate little. By 28 February
it lay motionless and took food without getting up.
Its condition sharply
declined. In March it began to get better, ans was able to move; it
jumped into the hay, and thereafter rarely came out.
This secretive behaviour
and slow improvement in the condition of the ermine continued up to
17 April (end of observations).
Ermine No.5.
On 29 January fed on two white mice Nos.13 and 14 injected
subcutaneously the previous evening ~ith B. tularense strain No.15,10 9
I
bacterial cells per ml.
On 17 February fed on a third white mouse No.25
injected subcutaneously on 15 February with the same dose.
The control
mice died on 18 February.
After 10 days, given a further two white mice
Nos.29 and 30 infected on 26 February subcutaneously with a~.
tularense