| Abstract: | The role of hemolysin in the enteropathogenic mechanism of non-O1 V. cholerae was experimentally investigated, in vitro and in vivo. Results are summarized as follows. 1). A greater majority of enteropathogenic strains produced hemolysin in Eagle MEM medium supplemented with 10% calf serum and in the rabbit ileal loop, while most non-enteropathogenic strains did not under the same conditions. 2). Non-enteropathogenic mutants derived from enteropathogenic parent strains produced much less hemolysin than that of parent strains. 3). A significant inhibition of the fluid accumulation in the ligated rabbit ileal loop test with viable cells was noted in rabbit immunized with purified hemolysin. These results indicate that hemolysin is the most important toxin in the enteropathogenic mechanism of non-O1 V. cholerae. |
