Coagulation Changes in a Piglet Model of SEB Intoxication

We have found the domestic Yorkshire piglet ( Sus scrofa ) a suitable animal model for researching the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) and have used this model to demonstrate gross, histological and various clinical diagnostic parameters (body temp‐T, blood pressure‐BP, blood gasses‐BG) to characterize the clinical syndrome of SE intoxication. In this report we use thrombelastography (TEG) to investigate an additional clinical parameter in this model‐ the blood coagulation and fibrinolytic system to investigate coagulation changes. TEG is used to characterize, in vitro, formation and strength of the blood clot over time measuring the time to initial clot formation (r), evaluate a developing clot acceleration phase (k, α‐angle), strengthening (MA) and retraction. Thirty five 2–3 week old domestic piglets, approx. 4–8kg were injected intravenously with 300ug/kg purified SEB and then closely monitored for clinical progression of SEB intoxication using T, BP, BG and TEG to monitor SEB intoxication and track coagulation changes between 0 and 72 hours. Blood was drawn for baseline TEG analysis prior to SEB intoxication (n=33) and at various time points following intoxication. Our results demonstrate the piglets become significantly hypocoagulable (r, k, α‐angle values) following SEB intoxication by 36 hour then hypercoagulable after 48 hrs. This report may be the first use of TEG to assess the coagulation changes in SE induced shock in a porcine model.