Some physiological and biochemical effects of a Coxiella burneti lipopolysaccharide preparation on guinea pigs

Abstract

A lipopolysaccharide obtained in a dialyzed phenol extract from C. burneti produced the following effects in guinea pigs after intraperitoneal injection: hyperthermia, loss of body weight, increased liver weight and concomitant lipid infiltration, elevated levels of hepatic and plasma cortisol, increased incorporation of [3H]orotic acid into hepatic 28S and 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid, increased incorporation of 14C labeled amino acids into liver and plasma protein and leukocytosis. Most of these events also occur during infection of guinea pigs with C. burneti, and a causal relationship between the rickettsial lipopolysaccharide and the biochemical changes that occur during Q fever is suggested.