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 mug/kg) evoked a dose-dependent increase in body temperature. The febrile response to 0.5 mug/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.