Klebsiella pneumoniae enterotoxin. III. Effect of Klebsiella pneumoniae enterotoxin on the intestinal transport and histopathological changes in rabbit ileal loop.

Klebsiella pneumoniae strain B-5-1 was used to study the effect of its enterotoxin on the intestinal transport and histopathological changes in the rabbit ileal loop. Enterotoxin increased the net flux of water and of electrolytes. Increased amounts of phospholipids and proteins were also detected together with structural and functional abnormalities in the ileum. All these suggest that K. pneumoniae enterotoxin not only induce a net flux of fluid and imbalance of electrolytes but also damages the intestinal structure.