Open AccessEvaluation of the chick embryo for the determination of relative virulence of Neisseria meningitidis
Author(s) -
Pine Leo,
Quinn Frederick D.,
Ewing Edwin P.,
Birkness Kristin A.,
White Elizabeth H.,
Stephens David S.,
Ribot Efrain
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07695.x
Subject(s) - virulence , neisseria meningitidis , microbiology and biotechnology , strain (injury) , embryo , biology , inoculation , yolk sac , neisseria , bacteria , median lethal dose , virology , gene , genetics , chemistry , immunology , toxicity , anatomy , organic chemistry
The chick embryo model was evaluated as a method to compare virulence between selected strains of Neisseria meningitidis . Inoculation of 13‐day‐chick embryos via the egg yolk distinguished strains having an LD 50 of 10 3 colony forming units (CFU) or greater (low virulence) from those having an LD 50 of approximately 10 1 or less (high virulence). A strain of serogroup B and a spontaneous nonpiliated strain of group C were found to be of relatively high virulence while a strain of N. lactamica , a serogroup A carrier strain, and certain nongroupable strains were found to be of low virulence. Strains having an LD 50 of 10 2 were not differentiated from either of these. Alternatively, inoculation of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of 9‐day‐old chick embryos statistically differentiated most strains of N. meningitidis although inoculation via this route was less sensitive.