EQUINE ESCHERICHIA-COLI ENDOTOXEMIA - COMPARISON OF INTRAVENOUS AND INTRA-PERITONEAL ENDOTOXIN ADMINISTRATION

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (7) , 991-998
Abstract
Certain physiologic and hematologic data were determined in ponies given E. coli endotoxin by 3 routes: single i.v. dose, single i.p. dose and multiple i.p. boluses. In all ponies, the reaction was characterized by weakness, depression, peripheral circulatory abnormalities and pyrexia. The pyrexia was more severe and was sustained in the ponies given multiple i.p. bolus endotoxin. Changes in packed cell volume, peripheral blood neutrophil, lymphocyte and thrombocyte counts, and blood glucose were noticed in the 3 groups. Blood lactate and .beta.-glucuronidase values were determined and increases occurred only in the 2 i.p. endotoxin administration groups. A fibrinogen increase was observed in only the multiple i.p. bolus group. Attempts were made to correlate the lactate and .beta.-glucuronidase values with the severity and prognosis of the endotoxemia response. In general, the single i.v. bolus and, to a lesser extent, the single i.p. bolus endotoxin produced abrupt but transient responses. The multiple i.p. bolus endotoxin administration produced a more gradual and sustained response, which was more closely comparable with a clinical gastrointestinal disease problem than the other routes of administration produced.