Desferrioxamine-Promoted Virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica in Mice Depends on Both Desferrioxamine Type and Mouse Strain

Abstract

The effectsof desferrioxamine B (DFOB) and G (DFOG) on growth promotion and virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica as wellas on T cell activation and proliferation were investigated. Both desferrioxamines promoted growth of Y. enterocolitica O:8 (WA-314)and 0:3 (Y-108). DFOB had a greater immunosuppressive effecton T cells than did DFOG. These results suggest a dual role of DFOB in yersiniosis: growth promotion of the pathogen and immunosuppressionof the host. The LD₅₀ of both Yersinia strains for mice was reduced by DFOB but not by DFOG. However, the LD₅₀ of yersiniae was reduced by DFOB to a greater extent in Yersinia-resistant C57BL/6 than in Yersinia-susceptible BALB/cmice.The different impact of DFOB on the LD₅₀ of Y. enterocolitica in C57BL/6 and BALB/c micemight be due to an immunomodulating effect of DFOB.