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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 October; 16(10): 1451-1453
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mortality of Altitude-exposed Mice Infected with Pasturella tularensis

Biosciences Division, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas 78235

ABSTRACT

The influence of reduced barometric pressure equivalent to an altitude of 18,000 ft (5,486 m) on the susceptibility of mice to tularemia was investigated by exposing groups of animals to the test environment before, after, or before and after intraperitoneal inoculation of 225 colony-forming units of Pasteurella tularensis. Similarly infected control animals were not exposed to the experimental environment. Two measurements of mortality were employed: (i) the day on which 50% of the mice were dead; and (ii) the number of dead mice on the 8th day. Continuous altitude exposure for 14 days prior to infection had no effect on host susceptibility but exposure after infection significantly increased mortality (P < 0.001).