Induction of emetic, pyrexic, and behavioral effects of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B in the ferret.
Ferrets which had been orally dosed with 5 mg of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) responded with an increase in subcutaneous temperature. At 75 min, the subcutaneous temperature was significantly higher (+ 0.9 degrees C +/- 0.38 degrees C, P < 0.007) than in control animals. Animals dosed with 1 or 2 mg of SEB responded with a small, but not significant, increase in subcutaneous temperature. All of the animals dosed with 5 mg of SEB retched and vomited. The mean latency for the onset of retching was 105 +/- 36 min, and the mean latency for the onset of vomiting was 106 +/- 34 min. The mean number of retches was 17.8 +/- 19.6, and the mean number of vomits was 2.0 +/- 1.5. These findings indicate that ferrets can be used as alternatives to primates for the study of the biological activities of SEB.
Wright
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Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, CBD Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJQ, United Kingdom.
Andrews
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PL
Titball
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RW
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003672:Defecation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000382:microbiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology*
D004768:Enterotoxins; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal