[Pathogenesis of certain mycobacterioses in a chemically damaged liver of the rabbit (author's transl)].

Cirrhosis of the liver was provoked in adult rabbits by the administration of CCl4/0,3 ml subcutaneously two times a week during a period of six weeks. It was found that the infection by M. tuberculosis, M. avium and M. kansasii causes a considerably greater dissemination than in the case with the livers of rabbits unaffected by cirrhosis, and that even a non-pathogenic strain (M. intracellulare) is pathogenic, if the liver is affected. Our findings confirm the lowered resistance of a chemically damaged liver to the development of mycobacterial infection.