PLASMA ENZYME CHANGES IN LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES-INFECTED MICE

Plasma enzyme assays in mice infected with L. monocytogenes strain A4413 showed progressive increases in activity of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, phosphohexose isomerase, leucine aminopeotidase, lactic dehydrogenase, isocitric dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, lipase, ornithine carbamyl transferase, and [beta] -glucuronidase. Alkaline phosphatase activity appeared to decrease slightly during infection. No changes were observed in plasma creatine phosphokinase activity. Immunized animals were challenged with 106 organisms and tested for changes in plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, ornithine carbamyl transferase, and [beta] -glucuronidase activity. The animals resisted infection and showed no changes in plasma enzyme activity following the challenge injection. A major site of tissue damage during the infection occurred in the liver and included liberation of enzymes of predominantly lysosomal origin. No evidence suggesting myocardial injury was observed.