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Infect Immun. 1973 November; 8(5): 736-742
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Virulence of Six Strains of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) in Mice

Division of Bacterial Products, Bureau of Biologics, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20852
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

ABSTRACT

The abilities of six strains of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG to replicate in vivo and to cause spleen enlargement in the CDF₁ male mouse were compared. The strains were grown in synthetic medium and harvested soon after complete pellicles were produced on liquid medium. In addition, two freeze-dried commercially available preparations were tested. The comparisons were made on the basis of injecting equal numbers of colony-forming units. Strain differences were marked. The Brazil strain was most effective in stimulating spleen enlargement, and the Japan strain was the least effective. This correlated with the number of colony-forming units isolated from the spleen.