Pathogenesis of edema disease in swine: pathologic effects of hemolysin, autolysate, and endotoxin of Escherichia coli (O141)
Kurtz, H.J.; Short, E.C.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 37(1): 15-24
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 1108715 Document Number: 97502
Haemolysin, cell-free autolysate, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prepared from E. coli were administered i/v to 113 weaned pigs. Both haemolysin and cell-free autolysate were crude preparations which probably contained several biologically active substances. Pigs in all groups which died less than 72 hours after injection had similar gross and microscopic lesions. The pigs which survived (chronically affected pigs) were killed 3-12 days after injection. Of the pigs that lived more than 72 hours after injection, those given haemolysin and autolysate had generalized vascular myolysis and fibrinoid necrosis, whereas those given LPS had morphologically normal blood vessels. The vascular changes produced by haemolysin and autolysates were the same as the histological angiopathy of naturally occurring oedema disease of pigs. The LPS produced acute lesions of endotoxin shock in the pigs, but did not produce the angiopathy characteristic of oedema disease. Typical clinical signs of naturally occurring oedema disease were not a consistant observation in any of the treatment groups.