Effect of Temperature and Drug Therapy on Anthrax Intoxication

Abstract

Summary

In contrast to other known bacterial toxins and venoms, challenge with anthrax toxin resulted in a hypothermia which is as great as 14-15°C in animals stressed by holding at 4°C. In comparison with animals held at room temperature following challenge, mean time to death is shortened in those animals held at 37°C and extended at 4°C became more susceptible to anthrax toxin, being killed by 8 rat units of toxin, whereas 16 units were required to kill animals held at room temperature. Antiserum, if administered through 60 minutes, prevented death of rats challenged with 15 units of toxin and tended to extend time to death of rats challenged with higher dosages of toxin. For animals challenged with 30 units of toxin and held at 24°C, the drugs, caffeine, N-allyl-morphine, ACTH, hydrocortisone and barbituate were ineffective except for barbituate which extended time to death. All drugs were ineffective for rats stressed at 4°C.