Etiology:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative motile rod.

Incidence:  The incidence of infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is low.

Transmission: Pseudomonas can colonize the intestinal tract of mice following consumption of nonsterile water.

Clinical signs:  There are no clinical signs in immunocompetent mice and most immunocompromised mice.  There have been a few instances in severely immunocompromised mice in which clinical inner ear disease has been attributed to natural P. aeruginosa infection where animals were seen “circling” or “rolling.”

Pathology:  A septicemic and endotoxemic syndrome has been reported in colonized mice that have been treated with immunosuppressive drugs or X-irradiation.

Diagnosis:  P. aeruginosa can be diagnosed by culture.