The generalized Shwartzman reaction in association with E. coli enterotoxemia in a pig.

A pig at the age of approx. 10 weeks died after four days of illness. Distinct necrotic changes were found both in the skin and the cortex of the kidneys. The histological examination revealed fibrinoid thrombi in skin vessels. In the kidneys similar thrombi were observed in capillaries of the glomeruli and in their afferent arterioles and in the interlobular arteries. In these vessels there were also a fibrinoid mural necrosis. These changes were in accordance with those expected to occur in the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR). The diagnosis of Escherichia coli enterotoxemia was based on the pathomorphological changes in the alimentary tract. The E. coli enterotoxemia was considered the cause of the GSR-changes.     

Lesions in the brains of three cattle resembling the lesions of enterotoxaemia in lambs

CASE HISTORY: A 3-month-old female Angus calf was found dead, and two adult Friesian dairy cows died soon after developing nervous signs.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Grossly, bilateral and mostly symmetrical areas of haemorrhage were evident that mainly involved areas of grey matter in the brainstem from the level of the caudal colliculi to the thalamus and, in one, the internal capsule and caudate nucleus. In the occipital and caudal parietal cortex, there was extensive oedema of white matter. Histologically, in addition to haemorrhage, there was protein-rich oedema around arterioles and venules in the cerebrum, hippocampus, internal capsule, thalamus, midbrain, dorsal medulla, and central cerebellar and cerebellar folial white matter. The calf's brain had bilateral and symmetrical oedema and necrosis affecting several brainstem nuclei and the occipital grey matter overlying areas of oedema of the corona radiata.

DIAGNOSIS: Although the cause was not established, the perivascular lesions resembled those produced in calves by the intravenous administration of epsilon toxin.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is possible that epsilon toxin-induced enterotoxaemia occurs naturally in cattle, and where bilateral haemorrhage is recognised in the brains of cattle, small intestinal contents should be collected for analysis of epsilon toxin.     

育成牛K99 F41兼型大肠杆菌的分离鉴定

从肠毒血症病死的4头育成牛空肠内分离到4株革兰氏阴性细菌,经生化试验、O抗原鉴定、纤毛抗原检查、ST肠毒素测定及动物感染试验证明,分离的4株细菌均为兼有K99和F41两种纤毛抗原的产ST肠毒素的O_(142)血清型致病性大肠埃希氏菌。