Pathogenic Effect of C. Freundii in Rats

Abstract

Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate pathological effect caused by Citrobacter freundii in rats, to achieve this goal; faecal
samples were collected during the period from December/ 2020 to March/ 2021 different region in Baghdad City. The
sample was cultured on different media, biochemical tests, Vitek2 system were applied. A total of 20 rats distributed into 2
group first group received 1x106 the second group received 1 ml PBS and considered a negative control group after that
animals were sacrificed after one week post infection results showed no gross lesions were seen in the examined organs
(lung, liver, spleen, intestine and brain) of both groups especially infected group. Histopathological changes of intestine,
lung, liver, spleen and brain showed severe histopathological changes in the infected group compared with the negative
control groups manifested by massive sloughing of intestinal epithelial lining with severe distension of lamina propria due
variable cell types infiltration, severe multifocal vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes with nuclear pyknosis of adjacent
hepatocytes with focal inflammatory cells, white pulp depletion with congestion of red pulp in spleen. The lung shows
moderate lymphoid depletion of BALT with necrosis of bronchial mucosa accompanied with polymorphonuclear and few
lymphocytes infiltration in mucosa and sub-mucosa.