In-vitro and in-vivo studies of a cytotoxin from Campylobacter jejuni

Studies were performed on a cytotoxin (CT) from human strains of Campylobacter jejuni isolated in Malaysia. CT was detected by cytopathic effect (CPE) on HeLa cells at titres from 8 to 32, in culture filtrates from 14 (48%) of 29 human isolates. The CPE correlated well with a quantitative 51Cr-release assay where a specific release of 54-68% was noted. CT production was lost after 5-7 subcultures. CT activity was also detected in 5 (26%) of 19 faecal filtrates from which CT-producing isolates were subsequently obtained. The mol. wt of CT was estimated by Sephadex G-50 chromatography to be greater than 30,000. In a suckling-mouse assay, CT consistently failed to demonstrate fluid accumulation after intragastric inoculation of culture filtrate. The Removable Intestinal Tie Adult Rabbit Diarrhoea (RITARD) assay was also used. Rabbits given CT-producing strains of C. jejuni developed bacteraemia and severe watery mucus-containing diarrhoea for the duration of the experiment with death of some animals. Rabbits given CT non-producing strains had less severe disease and none died. Rabbits given partially-purified CT had diarrhoea for 3 days but none died.