Summary
Ten beagle dogs were given highly purified staphylococcal enterotoxin B intravenously and were observed and bled at intervals during a 55-day-period. Pre- and postchallenge determinations of the whole blood clotting time, clot retraction, clot lysis, total white and differential cell count, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time were performed on each sample. An abnormality was indicated by each test at some point during the testing period with the exception of clot lysis. The most frequent and more severe abnormalities occurred within the first four days after challenge. The results indicate that alterations of the clotting mechanism do occur after administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin and suggests that the plasma factors are primarily involved. Changes in the leukocytic response appear to be similar to those sometimes observed in a severe bacterial infection.
