Sequential changes in gut mucosa of rabbits infected with Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal: an ultrastructural study.

Adhesion and subsequent colonisation are important events in the infection by Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal. To determine in details the pathological changes in the gut mucosa, an epidemic strain of O139 Bengal was inoculated in a rabbit ileal loop model. Electron microscopic studies were done at different time intervals after inoculation of the strain to see the histological changes at the ultrastructural level. From 10 hours onwards, cellular invasive processes with presence of bacteria in the lamina propria and other associated inflammatory changes were revealed.