RESPONSE OF RANA-PIPIENS TO GRADED DOSES OF THE BACTERIUM PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

The responses of lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues of Rana pipiens to a reportedly virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC#27853) were assessed by intraperitoneal injections of graded doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10(7)-10(8)/ml). Frogs kept for 10-14 days at 22 and 29 C were examined with respect to spleen weight, spleen cell density, and presence of viable P. aeruginosa within the spleen. Inoculation of very high doses of P. aeruginosa had no significant effect on mortality at the lower treatment temperatures, but was a significant cause of mortality at higher temperatures under high stress conditions. Spleen mass and spleen cell density were dose-dependent.