Quantification of Tissue Bacterial Load in a Mouse Model of Chronic Intestinal Infection

Source: Lo, B. C., et al. Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)The video demonstrates the quantification of bacterial load in a mouse model of chronic infection with streptomycin-resistant Salmonella typhimurium. Following euthanasia and sterile dissection, cecal and splenic tissues are harvested, homogenized with steel beads to release bacteria, and serially diluted. Dilutions are plated on selective agar, and visible colonies are counted to estimate bacterial load per gram of tissue in intestinal and systemic sites.