Also, inbred mouse strains differ in susceptibility. Susceptible mice have been shown to have a defect in TNF-alpha production. In addition, strains of P. aeruginosa differ widely in virulence. Most prominent among the exotoxins is exotoxin A, a superantigen. Numerous publications have reported on the effects of P. aeruginosa on research involving immunocompromised mice and rats.
Most reports are from experimental infections.
In addition, rodents with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus are more susceptible to P. aeruginosa infection. P. aeruginosa systems have been developed as models for numerous human diseases and conditions, including indwelling-catheter infections, pyelonephritis, burn trauma, chronic mucosal colonization, immunization strategies, and infection accompanying cystic fibrosis. From these reports, it is apparent that natural infection of immunocompromised mice and rats could affect a variety of research projects, depending upon the organ systems affected. The primary importance of Salmonella spp. is as zoonotic agents and as pathogens in immunocompromised mice and rats. S. enteritidis serotype typhimurium is the most common serotype infecting laboratory rodents, although the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers is unknown but probably low.