A Porcine Case of Shwartzman's Reaction in Association with Erysipelas

Abstract

The generalized Shwartzman's reaction (GSR), which is best known in humans and experimental rabbits, is patho-morphologically characterized by widespread microthrombosis and necrotic mural lesions in arteries at various sites, the kidneys frequently being target organs. The resulting renal parenchymal damage dis bilateral cortical necrosis (BCN), which is considered as the identifying lesion of GSR (Thomas 1959). Spontaneous porcine cases of BCN have previously been recognized in association with hog cholera (Röhrer 1932); BCN has also been induced experimentally in pigs in this laboratory by intravenous injections of disintegrated cells of Haemophilus, Salmonella and Escherichia coli (for references see Teige et al. 1973). Recently BCN has also been seen in association with coli-enterotoxaemia (Teige et al. in preparation). The present paper gives a brief description of a porcine case of GSR associated with erysipelas.