A rabbit model of toxic shock syndrome that uses a constant, subcutaneous infusion of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.

We have developed a rabbit model of toxic shock syndrome that uses a subcutaneous infusion pump to administer toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). A dose of 150 micrograms, infused at a constant rate over a period of 7 days, resulted in a characteristic illness highlighted by fever, conjunctival hyperemia, cachexia, and lethargy. The illness was uniformly fatal, with a mean interval until death of 3.2 +/- 0.4 days. Serial determinations of serum chemistries confirmed the multisystem nature of this illness. Rabbits developed profound hypocalcemia, with levels falling from 15.5 +/- 0.2 to 7.6 +/- 0.4 mg/dl under the influence of TSST-1. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine rose dramatically, in the setting of oliguria or anuria. Serum glutamicpyruvic transaminase was the most reliable indicator of hepatic dysfunction, with the mean rising from 48 U/liter before administration of TSST-1 to 546 U/liter among rabbits surviving 2 days of the infusion. Creatine phosphokinase also rose dramatically in 10 of 16 rabbits. Rabbits demonstrated relative neutrophilia and lymphopenia as well as an increase in the partial thromboplastin time. Histopathologic examination demonstrated disease of multiple organs, particularly the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, all of which demonstrated inflammation, thrombosis, hemorrhage, and erythrophagocytosis. The concurrent administration of prednisolone with TSST-1 prevented death in four of four rabbits and greatly lessened the morbidity. Rabbits were not protected from morbidity or mortality by the concurrent administration of polymyxin B. We believe that a constant, subcutaneous infusion of TSST-1 in rabbits provides a reproducible model for studying the pathogenesis of TSS.