FECAL EXCRETION OF LEUKOTRIENE C-4 DURING HUMAN-DISEASE DUE TO SHIGELLA-DYSENTERIAE

Fecal excretion of leukotriene C-4 was determined in 26 individuals wi th dysentery and in 19 healthy controls. Of the patients, five were in fected with Shigella dysenteriae type 1, 15 were infected with Shigell a flexneri, two were infected with Shigella boydii, and four were infe cted with Shigella sonnei. Three of the healthy controls were infected with non-dysenteriae Shigellae. All isolates of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 produced Shiga toxin; the other strains were not toxigenic. Pat ients with dysentery due to Shigella dysenteriae type 1 excreted highe r concentrations of leukotriene C, (median, 3,234 pg/0.05 g of feces) than either ill individuals infected with non-dysenteriae Shigellae (m edian, 202 pg/0.05 g) or healthy carriers (median, 145 pg/0.05 g) and uninfected controls (median, 129 pg/0.05 g). We propose that Shiga tox in stimulates intestinal mast cells, which release leukotriene C,, con tributing to the inflammatory response in Shigella dysenteriae type 1- associated dysentery.