Cholera-Like Toxic Effect of Culture Filtrates of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Culture filtrates of Escherichia coli from patients with diarrhea were tested for the ability to cause accumulation of fluid in intestinal loops of rabbits and dogs. Strains that caused fluid accumulation in rabbits also caused it in dogs. The time course of the enterotoxic effect in dogs was determined by measurement of serial fluxes of water and sodium in jejunal loops. These studies differentiated the effects of two enterotoxins, one rapid in onset, rinsable, and thermostable, the other late in onset, nonrinsable, and thermolabile. The thermolabile E. coli toxin resembled cholera toxin and was neutralized by cholera antitoxin.