Electronmicroscopic studies on the location of salmonella proliferation in the murine spleen.

Highly susceptible inbred male C57BL/6 mice were infected intraperitoneally with 2 x 10(7) cfu of a virulent Salmonella typhimurium strain. Tissue sections were taken from the spleen 2 and 3 days after infection for examination by electronmicroscopy. Rapid infiltration of polymorphs and macrophages was evident at the site of infection. These inflammatory phagocytes displayed avid destructive action against ingested bacteria. Bacterial multiplication occurred primarily in extracellular locations within sinusoids or in lesions containing disintegrating host cells.