Erythrogenic toxin-induced arteritis in a rabbit ear model. Comparison with Arthus reaction angiitis

We have developed a local type experimental model of angiitisin rabbits. Repeated intracutaneous injections of erythrogenic toxins types A and C (ETA, ETC) along the intermediate auricular artery of the rabbit ear produced subacute type arteritis, characteristic of lymphocyticinfiltration, simulating Kawasaki disease angiitis. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST) also induced similar lesions, indicating superantigens as inflammogens in vivo. Conversely, the Arthus reaction included acute type angiitis when tested similarly in rabbits immunized to human serum albumin. The ear artery was infiltrated by heterophil leukocytes, often together with venules and capillaries affected, resembling periarteritis nodosa and leukoclastic vasculitis in human disease.