Susceptibility of mice to bacterial infections after chronic exposure to cadmium.

Susceptibility to bacterial infections after chronic exposure to cadmium was studied in mice. Cadmium chloride was injected intraperitoneally three times a week for 4 weeks. After this treatment, mice displayed splenomegalia, hyperplasia of the B-dependent areas of spleen. Virulence of bacteria considered as usually having extracellular sites of multiplication (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), or intracellular (Listeria monocytogenes), was determined. Only L. monocytogenes showed an increased virulence in cadmium-treated mice.