Lung lysophospholipase activity in specific-pathogen-free rats infected with Pasteurella pneumotropica or Mycoplasma pulmonis.

The effects of Pasteurella pneumotropica and Mycoplasma pulmonis infections in specific-pathogen-free rats were studied to determine whether or not bacterial infections could cause an increase in rat lung lysophospholipase activity and/or changes in bone marrow eosinophil levels. Lung lysophospholipase activity levels of M. pulmonis-infected rats were elevated with increasing infection dosages, but enzyme levels were not accompanied by a lung tissue eosinophilia or an increase in bone marrow eosinophils. Rats infected with P. pneumotropica showed neither an increased lung lysophospholipase activity level nor an increased tissue or bone marrow eosinophilia.