This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hodoval, L. F. Articles by Beisel, W. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hodoval, L. F. Articles by Beisel, W. R. Agricola Articles by Hodoval, L. F. Articles by Beisel, W. R.

Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 February; 16(2): 187-192
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Pathogenesis of Lethal Shock After Intravenous Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B in Monkeys

U.S. Army Medical Unit, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21701

ABSTRACT

The pathogenesis of shock in the rhesus monkey given intravenous staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is not understood. Several cardiovascular changes produced by a highly purified preparation of SEB were studied after administration of doses ranging from 50 to 1,000 µg/kg. Irreversible arterial hypotension was found consistently at the higher doses. Arterial blood pressure and cardiac output declined substantially as shock developed. Total peripheral vascular resistance did not rise at any time, but showed a significant fall during the late stages of shock. Portal and central venous pressures remained essentially unchanged. Venous O₂ content and pO₂ declined gradually throughout the period of toxemia, but arterial O₂ content remained constant until just prior to death, when a slight fall was noted in some monkeys. These changes were consistent with a pooling of blood in the peripheral vascular beds and seemed to resemble cardiovascular responses reported to occur in monkeys during shock due to bacterial endotoxin. Epinephrine, administered in the late stages of shock, caused arterial pressure to increase almost immediately and cardiac output to return to normal about 1 min later. Although life could occasionally be prolonged for several hours by continuous or intermittent epinephrine infusions, this therapy never succeeded in reversing the lethal effects of high doses of SEB.

¹ Present address: Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 65201.

² Present address: Large Animal Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.

³ Present address: Waukesha Veterinary Medical Association, 145 Lake Street, Mukwonago, Wis. 53149.