FIG. 2.
Changes in concentrations of Stx1 (a) and Stx2 (b) in the intestinal contents of control (hatched columns) and L. casei-treated (white columns) rabbits after STEC infection. A total of 103 CFU of STEC strain 89020087 was given orally to the rabbits. On day 1, 4, or 7 after infection, the rabbits were sacrificed and portions of the gastrointestinal tract were removed and homogenized. Concentrations of Stxs in each homogenate were assayed with a bead ELISA as described in Materials and Methods. Three rabbits from each group on day 1, 6 control and 7 L. casei-treated rabbits on day 4, and 11 control and 15 L. casei-treated rabbits on day 7 were tested. An asterisk indicates significant difference (P < 0.05) from the value for the corresponding control group as calculated by Student's t test.