Background/Aims: Intestinal bacterial translocation is common in cirrhotic rats with
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and it is thought to play a major pathogenic role. There
has no far been no evidence for clonality between bacteria isolated from intestine and
ascites. This study aimed to use molecular epidemiology techniques to show that
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is due to translocated intestinal bacteria. Methods:
Samples of ascitic fluid, portal blood, mesenteric lymph nodes and ileal contents from …