Induction of circulating tumor necrosis factor cannot be demonstrated during septicemic salmonellosis in calves.

The concentration of tumor necrosis factor in the circulation of calves, which were infected with Salmonella typhimurium and exhibited septicemia as indicated by clinical signs and blood culture, was measured with a radioimmunoassay. These levels were compared with those in calves before infection and in other calves that had received an intravenous dose of gram-negative endotoxin. The tumor necrosis factor levels measured in samples taken during septicemia were not different from those in samples from infected nonsepticemic calves or samples from calves before infection. In contrast, the levels of tumor necrosis factor rose rapidly in calves after treatment with endotoxin by intravenous injection.