IMPLICATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE AND CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS IOTA TOXINS IN EXPERIMENTAL LINCOMYCIN-ASSOCIATED COLITIS OF RABBITS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (3) , 253-257
Abstract
Following oral administration of lincomycin, > 50% of 2 groups of 12 rabbits each died between 4-56 days with distended, non-hemorrhagic, fluid-filled ceca. Bacteria-free cecal filtrates from the rabbits that died were lethal for mice, cytopathic in mouse adrenocortical adenoma Y-1 tissue culture monolayers and caused increased vascular permeability in rabbit skin. Although the cecal filtrates of both groups had similar biological activity, the filtrate activity of 1 group was neutralized by C. perfringens iota antitoxin; the filtrate activity of the other group was neutralized by C. difficile antitoxin. Toxigenic C. difficile were isolated from the ceca of this group. A broth filtrate of a C. difficile culture was lethal for rabbits when injected i.v. and i.p. Either C. difficile toxin or C. perfringens iota toxin may be associated with lincomycin-associated colitis in rabbits.