Parasitization in Vitro of Bovine Cells by Brucella Abortus.

Although it is common knowledge that brucellae parasitize tissue cells of man and animals in natural and experimental infection, little is known concerning conditions that affect the parasitism. This laboratory has utilized monolayer tissue culture to study the multiplication of Brucella abortus in cells from various organs of the cow, natural host of B. abortus (Richardson, 1958). Holland and Pickett (1956) have demonstrated that brucellae multiply in chick embryo fibroblasts grown in vitro, and they have examined the intracellular behavior of Brucella variants. All other current investigations with Brucella in tissue culture pertain to growth of brucellae in monocytes from normal and vaccinated experimental animals. PomalesLebr6n and Stinebring (1957), Braun et al. (1958), Elberg et al. (1957), Freeman and Vana (1958), and Holland and Pickett (1958) have found, in general, that the monocyte possesses potentialities in vitro for study of cellular immunity and virulence of brucellae. In reviewing the histopathological reactions in the evolution of brucellosis, Huddleson (1955) states that all evidence indicates that the epithelial cell system provides the proper environment for the multiplication and persistence of brucellae in various organs. Wall (1914), Smith (1919), and Ridala (1936) described extensive parasitization by B. abortus of the epithelial cells of the bovine uterus, chorion, and udder, respectively; Meyer (1943) and Nyka (1948) reported intracellular localization of brucellae in human tissue cells from fatal cases; and Fabyan (1912), Castaneda (1947), and Nyka (1948) have demonstrated that the epithelial system of various organs from experimentally infected guinea pigs, rabbits, and mice is parasitized in vivo by brucellae. This study was undertaken to investigate the