EFFECTS OF ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS ON FEVER AND NEUTROPHILIA INDUCED BY CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE TOXIN-B

This study investigated the ability of Clostridium difficile toxin B, isolated from the VPI 10463 strain, to induce fever and neutrophilia i n rats. Intravenous injection of toxin B (0.005-0.5 mu g/kg) evoked a dose-dependent increase in body temperature. The febrile response to 0 .5 mu g/kg of the toxin started in 2.5 h, peaked at 5 h, and subsided fully within 24 h. Toxin B also induced a dose-dependent neutrophilia. Pretreatment with indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the neu trophilia induced by toxin B, but significantly reduced the febrile re sponse measured 4 to 8 h after toxin B injection. Dexamethasone (0.5 m g/kg) also markedly diminished the febrile response induced by toxin B . These results show that Clostridium difficile toxin B induced a febr ile response susceptible to inhibition by dexamethasone and indomethac in. Furthermore, they suggest that prostaglandins are not involved in the neutrophilia caused by this toxin.