Intravenous inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus in pigs induces severe sepsis as indicated by increased hypercoagulability and hepatic dysfunction

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intravenous inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus in pigs induces severe sepsis as indicated by increased hypercoagulability and hepatic dysfunction

AU - Leifsson, Pall Skuli

AU - Iburg, Tine Moesgaard

AU - Jensen, Henrik Michael Elvang

AU - Agerholm, Jørgen Steen

AU - Kjelgaard-Hansen, Mads

AU - Wiinberg, Bo

AU - Heegaard, Peter M. H.

AU - Astrup, Lærke Boye

AU - Olsson, Anna E.

AU - Skov, Mette G.

AU - Aalbæk, Bent

AU - Nielsen, Ole Lerberg

PY - 2010/8

Y1 - 2010/8

N2 - Nine pigs were inoculated intravenously once or twice with 108 Staphylococcus aureus per kilogram body weight and sacrificed 12, 24 and 48 h after inoculation. Three sham-infected pigs served as controls. Blood samples were taken for bacteriology, haematology and clinical chemistry. A necropsy was carried out and tissue samples were collected for bacteriology and histology. The onset of clinical disease was seen at 7-8 h after inoculation. The blood bacterial counts remained low throughout the study. All infected pigs developed sepsis characterized by fever, neutrophilia, increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, and decreased levels of serum iron. The CRP and IL-6 levels peaked at 36 h, whereas IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α showed no obvious changes. Thromboelastography showed increasing hypercoagulability from 12 h and onwards, whereas the platelet numbers declined slightly throughout the experiment. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin were elevated at 24 and 36 h. In conclusion, sepsis and severe sepsis were induced as evidenced by dysfunction of the blood clotting system and the liver.

AB - Nine pigs were inoculated intravenously once or twice with 108 Staphylococcus aureus per kilogram body weight and sacrificed 12, 24 and 48 h after inoculation. Three sham-infected pigs served as controls. Blood samples were taken for bacteriology, haematology and clinical chemistry. A necropsy was carried out and tissue samples were collected for bacteriology and histology. The onset of clinical disease was seen at 7-8 h after inoculation. The blood bacterial counts remained low throughout the study. All infected pigs developed sepsis characterized by fever, neutrophilia, increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, and decreased levels of serum iron. The CRP and IL-6 levels peaked at 36 h, whereas IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α showed no obvious changes. Thromboelastography showed increasing hypercoagulability from 12 h and onwards, whereas the platelet numbers declined slightly throughout the experiment. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin were elevated at 24 and 36 h. In conclusion, sepsis and severe sepsis were induced as evidenced by dysfunction of the blood clotting system and the liver.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02042.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02042.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20618862

SN - 0378-1097

VL - 309

SP - 208

EP - 216

JO - FEMS Microbiology Letters

JF - FEMS Microbiology Letters

ER -