Hematological changes in calves exposed to a mixture of lipopolysaccharide and crude leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if culture supernatants of Pasteurella haemolytica containing crude leukotoxin and lipopolysaccharide (CLCL) causes disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) when injected into calves. The effect of intraduodenal (ID) exposure followed by a subsequent subcutaneous (SC) inoculation of either heat-treated or untreated CLCL was evaluated. The relative contribution of the crude leukotoxin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the virulence of P. haemolytica was evaluated. One group of calves received an ID inoculation of CLCL followed two weeks later by a SC inoculation of CLCL; one group received an ID inoculation of tissue culture medium followed two weeks later by a SC inoculation of CLCL; and a third group received an ID inoculation of CLCL followed two weeks later by a SC inoculation of heat-treated CLCL. Hematological parameters used to evaluate DIC included white cell count, platelet count, neutrophil number, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products, one stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time, body temperature and clinical signs. Each parameter was measured in calves at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h following the SC inoculation of CLCL. Each group had significant changes over time in all parameters except body temperature. Calves that received a SC inoculation of heat-treated CLCL had smaller changes in all parameters except OSPT compared to the other groups. Results suggest that the LPS and leukotoxin of P. haemolytica exert additive effects on the coagulation cascade and number of peripheral leukocytes, and that the ID inoculation of CLCL does not affect the response of calves to a SC inoculation of toxin.