Experimental necrotic dermatosis induced by group G streptococci in mice.

Self healing necrotic lesions were produced on the backs of laboratory mice by injecting group G streptococci into the skin. The incidence and severity of necrotic dermatosis was dose related. When 1 x 10(1) colony forming units (cfu) were injected subcutaneously, lesions developed on three of 16 mice 4 days post inoculation. Injection of 1 x 10(3) cfu produced lesions on five of 16 mice and 1 x 10(5) cfu produced lesions on seven of 15 mice 3 days post inoculation. An inoculation of 1 x 10(7) cfu produced lesions on all of 16 mice 2 days post inoculation. Lesions produced by the 1 x 10(1) inoculum were smaller and had healed by the 15th day post inoculation, whereas lesions produced by the 1 x 10(7) inoculum persisted until the 24th day post inoculation. No mortality could be attributed to experimental design and all lesions healed without the use of medication or antibiotics.