Experimental diarrhoea in baby rabbits due to oral administration of heat-labile enterotoxin of E. coli enteropathogenic for swine
Kutas, F.; Vetési, F.; Semjén, G.
Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 24(1): 177-186
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-7205 PMID: 4609025 Document Number: 70580
Heat-labile enterotoxin produced from an enteropathogenic E. coli strain of porcine origin produced diarrhoea in rabbits, causing characteristic clinical response and P.M. lesions, while whole-cell lysate from a non-enterotoxigenic porcine strain failed to do so. The changes after administration of enterotoxin were similar to those observed in the naturally occurring form of rabbit mucoid enteritis and coliform diarrhoea of piglets: increased fluid secretion into the intestinal lumen, diarrhoea, severe dehydration, metabolic acidosis and uraemia. The volume and composition of fluid accumulated in intestine were also studied. When compared to host plasma, this fluid was high in bicarbonate and nearly iso-osmolar. The baby rabbit is suggested as a suitable experimental model for the study of the effect of E. coli enterotoxin.