title: Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on fever and neutrophilia induced by Clostridium difficile toxin B.
abstract: This study investigated the ability of Clostridium difficile toxin B, isolated from the VPI 10463 strain, to induce fever and neutrophilia in rats. Intravenous injection of toxin B (0.005-0.5 mug/kg) evoked a dose-dependent increase in body temperature. The febrile response to 0.5 mug/kg of the toxin started in 2.5 h, peaked at 5 h, and subsided fully within 24 h. Toxin B also induced a dosedependent neutrophilia. Pretreatment with indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the neutrophilia induced by toxin B, but significantly reduced the febrile response measured 4 to 8 h after toxin B injection. Dexamethasone (0.5 mg/ kg) also markedly diminished the febrile response induced by toxin B. These results show that Clostridium difficile toxin B induced a febrile response susceptible to inhibition by dexamethasone and indomethacin. Furthermore, they suggest that prostaglandins are not involved in the neutrophilia caused by this toxin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences USP Campus-14040-903 Ribeirão Preto S.P. Brazil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lyerly
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Souza