Premium
Ethanol Consumption and the Susceptibility of Mice to Listeria monocytogenes Infection
Author(s) -
Salerno Joseph A.,
Waltenbaugh Carl,
Cianciotto Nicholas P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2001.tb02236.x
Subject(s) - listeria monocytogenes , spleen , microbiology and biotechnology , listeria , ethanol , pathogenesis , virulence , bacteria , alcohol , alcohol consumption , mouse strain , infectious dose , biology , immunology , liquid diet , gene , biochemistry , virus , genetics
Background: It is well known that excessive alcohol consumption correlates with increased infectious disease. However, the molecular microbiological and immunological bases for ethanol‐induced alterations in host defense are largely unknown. Methods: To study the effect of alcohol consumption on the pathogenesis of intracellular bacteria, we examined the relative susceptibility of alcohol‐fed mice to a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes . Results: Based on lethal dose 50% determinations, survival curve analysis, and bacterial burden, alcohol consumption did not increase the susceptibility of C57BL/6, BALB/c, or A/J mice to systemic infection by strain EGD. Mice fed an ethanol‐containing liquid diet showed slightly reduced susceptibility to Listeria . Alcohol consumption modestly decreased bacterial numbers in the spleen but not the liver. We also found that mice fed a typical solid diet were more sensitive to EGD infection than were animals fed a control liquid‐containing diet. Conclusions: This study indicates that alcohol consumption may not always increase infectious disease progression.