FIG. 7.

Effects of fluid therapy on disease outcome for susceptible mice. (A) Mortality of C. rodentium-infected C3H and FVB mice was fully prevented by fluid administration (P < 0.0001). (B) Body weight loss in infected C3H and FVB mice was not affected by fluid administration (P > 0.05), although it was delayed in infected FVB mice (P < 0.05 at 5 to 10 dpi). Data are presented as mean differences ± SEM. (C) Levels of fecal bacterial shedding were comparable between fluid-treated and untreated groups for both strains (P > 0.05). C. rodentium counts were lower in FVB mice at 3 dpi and higher at 18 dpi than in C3H mice (*, P < 0.05). Data were log transformed and are presented as mean differences ± SEM. The dashed line indicates the limit of detection. (D) No differences in stool water losses were observed between infected fluid-treated and untreated animals (P > 0.05), although the diarrheal response was more rapid in C3H mice than in FVB mice (***, P < 0.001). In addition, uninfected C3H mice had lower stool water contents in the beginning of the experiment than did uninoculated FVB mice (*, P < 0.05). Data are presented as mean differences ± SEM. (E) Fluid therapy did not affect bacterial recovery from tissues of C3H mice (P > 0.05). Data were log transformed, and each dot corresponds to an individual animal. Lines indicate mean values. (F) Mucosal permeability was measured by the detection of FITC-dextran in serum after administration by intragastric intubation. No differences between groups of C3H mice were found (P > 0.05). Each dot corresponds to an individual animal, and lines indicate mean values. C, uninoculated controls; I, infected untreated mice; IF, infected mice treated with fluid therapy intervention.