INFLUENCE OF STAPHLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN ON PERFORMANCE IN GUINEA PIGS

摘要

This investigation was undertaken to explore the possibility of staphylococcal enterotoxin exerting a toxicity capable of influencing the performance in guinea pigs. Only predetermined "cat positive" enterotoxin filtrates were used. Test animals, inoculated intraperitoneally with 2.0 ml. of the enterotoxin filtrate, were subjected to performance stress after a holding period. Control animals were handled in precisely the same manner as test animals except that equal volumes of physiological saline were used as the inoculum. No dramatic manifestation of enterotoxicity was observed under the conditions of this investigation. A statistical analysis of the data collected indicated no significant difference between the mean performance times of test and control animals. However, a statistical difference at the .05 probability level was obtained for the mean performance of guinea pigs at different water bath temperatures. Inoculation of guinea pigs with "cat positive" enterotoxin filtrate does not influence performance ability.