Journal Articles, Hindawi Press

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Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on fever and neutrophilia induced by Clostridium difficile toxin B
Cardoso, R. A.; Melo Fihlo, A. A.; Melo, M. C. C.; Lyerly, D. M.; Wilkins, Tracy D.; Lima, A. A. M.; Ribeiro, R. A.; Souza, G. E. P. (Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 1996-06)
This study investigated the ability of Clostridium difficile toxin B, isolated from the VPI 10463 strain, to induce fever and neutrophilia in rats. Intravenous injection of toxin B (0.005-0.5 mu g/kg) evoked a dose-dependent increase in body temperature. The febrile response to 0.5 mu g/kg of the toxin started in 2.5 h, peaked at 5 h, and subsided fully within 24 h. Toxin B also induced a dose-dependent neutrophilia. Pretreatment with indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the neutrophilia induced by toxin B, but significantly reduced the febrile response measured 4 to 8 h after toxin B injection. Dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) also markedly diminished the febrile response induced by toxin B. These results show that Clostridium difficile toxin B induced a febrile response susceptible to inhibition by dexamethasone and indomethacin. Furthermore, they suggest that prostaglandins are not involved in the neutrophilia caused by this toxin.