Gastrointestinal tract distribution of Salmonella enteritidis in orally infected mice with a species-specifi c fl uorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction

cecum, without causing apparent symptoms.By 5 d post inoculation, the cecum had significantly higher numbers of S. enteritidis than any of the other areas (P < 0.01), and this appeared to reflect its function as a repository for S. enteritidis. CONCLUSION:The results provided significant data for clarifying the pathogenic mechanism of S. enteritidis in the gastrointestinal tract, and showed that the jejunum, ileum and cecum are the primary sites of invasion in normal mice after oral infection.This study will help to further understanding of the mechanisms of action of S.enteritidis.