Studies of Escherichia Coli in Gnotobiotic Pigs: V. Evaluation of the Effects of Orål and Parenteral Administration of Immune Serum

The effects of orally and/or parenterally administered immune serums were evaluated in 36 gnotobiotic pigs infected with an enteropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. Pigs were euthanatized at predetermined time intervals between 6 and 48 hours prostinfection. The results were evaluated on the basis of: 1) clinical observations, 2) necropsy observations, 3) counts of viable E. coli in segments of the small intestine, 4) attempts to isolate E. coli from the heart, liver, and bile, 5) microscopic examination of fixed intestinal sections to determine the location of E. coli and morphologic evidence of the host response, and 6) determination of the pH of the various portions portions of the gastrointestinal tract.