Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract to various segments of the mesenteric lymph node complex.

Abstract Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis translocate to different segments of the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) complex at levels reflecting their population levels in the regions of the gastrointestinal tract that provide lymph to these various MLN segments. Salmonella typhimurium, however, translocates to all segments of the MLN complex equally regardless of regional intestinal population levels.