The Golden Hamster as a Test Animal for Tubercular Infection

Abstract

THE bacteriological diagnosis of specimens for presence of Koch's bacilli and testing of compounds for their antitubercular properties are mainly restricted to guinea pigs and rabbits ; mice are naturally resistant to tuberculous infections, and lesions produced after injecting massive doses of tubercle cultures differ from those found in susceptible animals. We have now been able to confirm that the Syrian or golden hamster (Cricetus (Mesocricetus) auratus Waterhouse), after intramuscular or intraperitoneal infections with a human or a bovine strain, develops anatomical lesions similar to those seen in guinea pigs.