Suppurative gastritis in BALB/c mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes via the intragastric route

Suppurative gastritis was demonstrated in BALB/c mice 3 days after intragastric inoculation with 10(9) organisms of Listeria monocytogenes strain ATCC19113 (serotype 3). Also tested were four other strains of mice (C3H, C57BL/6, FVB and ICR) and three other strains of L. monocytogenes (HPB 3 serotype 4b], HPB 410 serotype 1/2a] and HPB 503 serotype 1/2b]). After inoculation with ATCC19113 the numbers of bacteria found in the stomach wall were greater in C57BL/6 and ICR mice than in C3H and FVB mice; moreover, the gastritis produced in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice was more severe than that produced in the other mouse strains. The gastritis produced in BALB/c mice with L. monocytogenes HPB 3, HPB 410 and HPB 503 was much more severe than that produced by ATCC19113. The inflammatory response occurred in the lamina muscularis and mucosa of the fundus. Massive necrosis of the gastric epithelium was observed, and there was oedema in a large part of the mucosal layer of the fundus. In addition, the submucosal layer was apparently expanded due to oedema, and in the cardia, the mucosal layer had become thin and flattened. Immunohistochemically, a polyclonal antibody against Listeria spp. produced labelling in areas of the gastric mucosa in which there was an inflammatory response and gastric epithelial necrosis.