Immunocompromise in gnotobiotic pigs induced by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (O111:NM).
A verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O111:NM strain (strain 10049; verotoxin 1 positive) persistently infected experimentally inoculated gnotobiotic pigs, causing attaching-effecting intestinal lesions and chronic diarrhea. Experiments were performed to determine whether persistent infection might be associated with immunocompromise of the host of this organism. Pigs inoculated with this strain had a significant reduction in peripheral blood lymphocytes and lower antibody titers to sheep erythrocytes compared with control pigs. Compared with pigs given a verotoxin-negative pathogenic strain of the same serotype (O111:NM, strain 2430), pigs inoculated with the verotoxin-positive strain had lower peripheral lymphocyte counts and proliferative responses to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogens. The results of this study suggest that strain 10049 has an immunocompromising effect on gnotobiotic pigs.
Christopher-Hennings
J
J
Department of Veterinary Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007.
Willgohs
J A
JA
Francis
D H
DH
Raman
U A
UA
Moxley
R A
RA
Hurley
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D013552:Swine
D000906:Antibodies; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1