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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2008; 14(5): 782-789
Published online Feb 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.782
Quantitative studies of the regular distribution pattern for Salmonella enteritidis in the internal organs of mice after oral challenge by a specific real-time polymerase chain reaction
Shu-Xuan Deng, An-Chun Cheng, Ming-Shu Wang, Ping Cao, Bin Yan, Nian-Chun Yin, Sheng-Yan Cao, Zhen-Hua Zhang
Shu-Xuan Deng, Ping Cao, Bin Yan, Nian-Chun Yin, Sheng-Yan Cao, Zhen-Hua Zhang, Avian Diseases Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China
An-Chun Cheng, Ming-Shu Wang, Avian Diseases Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China
Ming-Shu Wang, College of Life Science and Technology of Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Deng SX, Cheng AC and Wang MS contributed equally to this work; Deng SX, Cheng AC and Wang MS designed research; Deng SX, Cao P, Yan B, Yin NC, Cao SY and Zhang ZH performed research; Deng SX analyzed data and wrote the paper
Correspondence to: Professor An-Chun Cheng, Avian Diseases Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Province, China. chenganchun@vip.163.com
Telephone: +86-835-2885774
Fax: +86-835-2885774
Received: November 28, 2007
Revised: December 7, 2007
Published online: February 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To identify and understand the regular distribution pattern for Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis) in the internal organs of mice after an oral challenge over a 3 wk period.

METHODS: Assays based on the serovar-specific DNA sequence of S. enteritidis from GenBank, and a serovar-specific real-time, fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) were developed for the detection of S. enteritidis. We used this assay to detect genomic DNA of S. enteritidis in the blood and the internal organs, including heart, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder, from mice after oral challenge at different time points respectively.

RESULTS: The results showed that the spleen was positive at 12 h post inoculation (PI), and the blood was at 14 h PI. The organism was detected in the liver and heart at 16 h PI, the pancreas was positive at 20 h PI, and the final organs to show positive results were the kidney and gallbladder at 22 h PI. The copy number of S. enteritidis DNA in each tissue reached a peak at 24-36 h PI, with the liver and spleen containing high concentrations of S. enteritidis, whereas the blood, heart, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder had low concentrations. S. enteritidis populations began to decrease and were not detectable at 3 d PI, but were still present up to 12 d PI in the gallbladder, 2 wk for the liver, and 3 wk for the spleen without causing apparent symptoms.

CONCLUSION: The results provided significant data for understanding the life cycle of S. enteritidis in the internal organs, and showed that the liver and spleen may be the primary sites for setting itself up as a commensal over a long time after oral challenge. Interestingly, it may be the first time reported that the gallbladder is a site of carriage for S. enteritidis over a 12 d period. This study will help to understand the mechanisms of action of S. enteritidis infection in vivo.

Keywords: Fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Internal organs; Salmonella enteritidis; Regular distribution pattern