Susceptibility of rats, hamsters, and mice to carious infection by Streptococcus mutans serotype c and d organisms.

Susceptibility of rats, hamsters, and mice to carious infection by S. mutans serotypes c and d was compared. S. mutans serotype c induced a similar level of carious lesions at experimental periods of 68, 82, and 98 d in rats, hamsters, and mice, respectively. On the other hand, S. mutans serotype d developed a high level of caries at those experimental periods in rats and hamsters, whereas in mice it showed weak caries activity.