Intervention with Shiga toxin (Stx) antibody after infection by Stx-producing Escherichia coli

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by Escherichia coli (STEC) cause systemic vascular damage, manifested as hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans and as edema disease in pigs. Edema disease, a naturally occurring disease of pigs, was used to determine whether Stx antibodies, administered after infection and after the onset of Stx production, could prevent the systemic vascular damage and clinical disease caused by Stxs. A total of 119 STEC-infected pigs were treated with low, medium, or high doses of Stx antibody or with placebo. After inoculation with STEC, antibodies or placebo was injected intraperitoneally at 2 days postinoculation (DPI; low dose) or 4 DPI (medium and high doses). Edema disease was prevented with the low- and high-dose Stx antibody treatments administered at 2 and 4 DPI, respectively. High-dose antibody treatment also reduced the incidence and extent of vascular lesions. The degree of protection depended on the dose of antibody and the time of administration.