Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide - induced experimental infection in piglets: clinical and laboratory findings

In six female piglets aged 2-3 months weighing 28 +/- 3 kg, an experimental infection has been provoked via the intravenous application of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose of 10 mug/kg b.w. The chan ges in clinical and laboratory parameters were followed out up to hour 72 f ollowing the treatment. It was determined that the first clinical signs, manifested with hypertherm ia, anorexia and decreased activity appeared as early as 40 min after the L PS application. The infection was characterized with an initial leukopenia, followed by leukocytosis. The most prominent biochemical changes were expressed in hyperproteinemia, disproteinemia, increased serum sialic acid and urea levels and increased s erum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) activities.