title: The presence of endotoxin activity in cases of experimentally-induced heartwater in sheep.
abstract: The presence of endotoxin was examined in 5 sheep with experimentally-induced heartwater. Two peaks in endotoxin levels were recorded in 4 out of the 5 sheep during the acute stage of the disease. The 1st peak coincided with or occurred shortly after the febrile reaction (over 40 degrees C). The 2nd peak occurred 3-5 days after the 1st, and in 2 sheep this 2nd elevation in endotoxin levels was associated with severe clinical signs (rapid and laboured breathing, cyanosis and recumbency), and 1 of the 2 sheep died on the day of the 2nd elevation. Both endotoxin peaks were of short duration and levels had decreased in the 24-h follow-up samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: van Amstel
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Oberem
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Didomenico
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D006357:Heartwater Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000097:blood*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides