The influence of flunixin on the response to Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin in calves

The effects of intravenous injection of 0.5 microgram/kg body weight of Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin were studied in calves. The injection was followed by ruminal stasis and general dullness. The clinical signs disappeared within 24 hours. The injection was followed by a tremendous increase in the plasma level of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, the main metabolite of PGF2 alpha. The injection was also associated with a profound leukopenia and significant decreases in the serum levels of iron, zinc and calcium. In order to study the role of prostaglandin (PG) for the development of endotoxin-induced changes a group of calves was pretreated with flunixin, a potent cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg body weight. Flunixin inhibited the PG release completely, but did not influence the other responses to endotoxin. The pyrogenic response to endotoxin was very moderate and it was suggested that fever is not the most suitable parameter for monitoring endotoxin effects in calves. The studied blood parameters (15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, iron, zinc, calcium and the number of leukocytes) appeared to be much more sensitive.