Experimental studies on enteropathogenicity and pathogenesis of group 'F' vibrio infections

Group 'F' vibrios are a recently recognised group of bacteria that have been isolated from cases of diarrhoea and a variety of sources in the environment. They have been shown to cause accumulation of fluid in rabbit gut loops. The enterotoxic factor was found to be heat-labile as evidenced by heat treatment, time course of fluid accumulation and negative suckling mouse assay. It was associated with cytotoxic factor(s). These organisms were seen to be lacking in invasive capacity. Prostaglandins and 5-hydroxytryptamine were found to play no role in causation of fluid outpouring into the loops but chlorpromazine was found to inhibit the fluid outpouring completely thereby indicating that the enterotoxin may act through mediation of cyclic AMP.