Figure 1

Mean number of bacteria (CFUs/g ± S.E.) in the respiratory tract of infected rabbits at days 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 post-infection (DPI). Initial infection dose is reported (Day 0 = log(50,000 CFU/ml+1)). At each day post infection, lungs, trachea and nasal cavity were collected from 4 infected and 2 control rabbits and individually stored in PBS. Serial dilutions of the homogenates were plated out on BG blood agar plates supplemented with streptomycin. Bacteria were enumerated after incubating for 36-48hr at 37°C. The number of bacteria significantly declined with infection time (LME, DPI: P < 0.0001) and was significantly higher in the nares than trachea or lungs (LME, Organs: P < 0.0001).