Colonization by Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella flexneri III of the gastrointestinal tract of mice treated with beta-2-thienylalanine and streptomycin.

Mice fed beta-2-thienylalanine (beta-2-T) by oesophageal tube were no more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract colonization by Salmonella typhimurium or Shigella flexneri III than control mice fed water. In both beta-2-T-fed and water-fed groups, the increasing dosage of S. typhimurium, in logarithmic increments to groups of mice, resulted in increasing numbers of these bacteria detectable on dilution plates from organ homogenates. Colonization by S. flexneri III only occurred at a dosage of 10(8) bacteria for both groups. Pretreatment with 50 mg streptomycin allowed 10(3) Salmonella or 10(4) Shigella to colonize both beta-2-T and water-fed groups. Coliforms, inhibited by beta-2-T under certain conditions in vitro, were found in equal numbers in both groups. No obvious differences were noted in either types of other bacteria detected or numbers recovered from the two groups. No gross behavioural changes were noted in mice fed beta-2-T and not challenged with pathogenic bacteria, and no pathological changes were noted in hepatic or splenic tissues. With increasing Salmonella dosage, collections of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, which were almost focal, and increased numbers of giant cells were noted in splenic red pulp areas, in both groups.