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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1969 March; 17(3): 394-398
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Role of the Kidney in Staphylococcal Enterotoxemia

^a U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and Medical Sciences Laboratory, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21701

ABSTRACT

Highly purified staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is known to accumulate rapidly within the kidneys of experimental animals. The present study was performed to determine whether the predominant renal localization of SEB was of fundamental pathophysiologic importance in the development of lethal shock after the intravenous administration of this toxin to monkeys. Eight bilaterally nephrectomized Macaca mulatta given 10 µg of SEB per kg survived for an average time period less than half that of nephrectomized control animals (P < 0.001). Their survival time, however, was similar to that of control, sham-nephrectomized monkeys given an equal amount of SEB. Thus, no evidence was obtained to suggest that the kidney converted purified SEB to a more potent toxin. The glomerular filtration and proximal tubule cell accumulation of SEB possibly occurred as a nonspecific consequence of its molecular size, and such localization within the kidney might have served to reduce the quantity of SEB reaching some other site of toxic activity. Similar pathological and clinical findings were demonstrated in monkeys from both experimental and control groups; these could not be ascribed to SEB alone.

¹ Present Address: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. 37203.

² Present Address: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104.