Exacerbation of Bacterial Toxicity to Infant Ferrets by Inftuenza Virus: Possible Role in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

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Abstract
Of several toxins examined, only staphylococcal a and α toxin, endotoxin, and diphtheria toxins were lethal for 5-day-old ferrets. Their toxicities were enhanced in animals infected at 1 day old with influenza virus, from 3-fold with staphylococcal γ toxin through 14-fold for staphylococcal α toxin, 84-fold for endotoxin, and 219-fold for diphtheria toxin. No increased viral replication occurred in any tissue; thus the effects of the toxins were exacerbated by the infection, not vice versa. Neonates died suddenly without clinical symptoms as in human babies dying from the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Pathologic examination showed inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, lung edema and collapse, and early bronchopneumonia in the toxin- and influenza virus-treated animals but not in those treated with toxin or virus alone. Thus, bacterial toxins could playa role in SIDS, this being more likely with a concomitant influenza virus infection.

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