VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

TYPES OF BACTERIAL TOXINS

• Enterotoxins are defined as those bacterial exotoxins that are specific for the intestinal tract causing vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
• In contrast to enterotoxin, the term endotoxin is used to describe a cell-associated bacterial toxin, usually a lipopolysaccharide complex that is found on the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
• Endotoxins essentially remain associated with the cell wall until the destruction of the bacteria by autolysis, external lysis or phagocytic digestion.
• While all animals can be affected by endotoxin, the horse is especially prone to disease complications due to endotoxemia.