Pathogenicity of High-Dose Enteral Inoculation of Burkholderia pseudomallet to Mice

Melioidosis is a frequently lethal tropical infection caused by the environmental saprophyte Burkholderia pseudomallei Although transcutaneous inoculation and inhalation arc considered the primary routes of infection suggestive clinical evidence implicates ingestion as a possible alternative route We show that in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice direct gastric inoculation of high doses of B pseudomaller, causes systemic infection that may be lethal or cause chronic disseminated infection Mice may shed bacteria in the stool for weeks after infection and high titers of B pseudomaller specific IgG are detectable This report of enteric murine melioidosis supports further consideration of this route of infection