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. 1996 Jun;5(3):183–187. doi: 10.1155/S0962935196000245

Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on fever and neutrophilia induced by Clostridium difficile toxin B

R A Cardoso 1, A A Melo Filho 2, M C C Melo 1, D M Lyerly 3, T D Wilkins 3, A A M Lima 2, R A Ribeiro 2, G E P Souza 1,✉
PMCID: PMC2365796  PMID: 18475713

Abstract

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 μg/kg) evoked a dose-dependent increase in body temperature. The febrile response to 0.5 μg/kg of the toxin started in 2.5 h, peaked at 5 h, and subsided fully within 24 h. Toxin B also induced a dosedependent 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.

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Selected References

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