Biomaterial Database

Effects of fever on host defense mechanisms after infection in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis. 1978

H A Bernheim, and P T Bodel, and P W Askenase, and E Atkins

Fever has never been proven beneficial in mammals, although it enhances survival in the lizard D. dorsalis infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. We examined the course of the infection and the function of host defence in febrile (41 degrees) and afebrile (35 degrees or 38 degrees) animals using this model. Infected, febrile lizards had sterile blood cultures, and 1-2 logs fewer bacteria in body tissues 6-12 h after infection. Granulocytes appeared early and in large numbers at the site of inoculation in febrile, but not afebrile, animals. We were unable to demonstrate effects of this small range of temperatures on in vitro growth rates of bacteria, on lizard granulocyte chemotactic or phagocytic functions, or upon serum antibody levels. Our results suggest that fever enhances some aspect of the early inflammatory response, leading to increased leucocyte emigration at the local site and containment of the infection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007962	Leukocytes	White blood cells. These include granular leukocytes (BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and NEUTROPHILS) as well as non-granular leukocytes (LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES).	Blood Cells, White,Blood Corpuscles, White,White Blood Cells,White Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, White,Blood Corpuscle, White,Corpuscle, White Blood,Corpuscles, White Blood,Leukocyte,White Blood Cell,White Blood Corpuscle
D008116	Lizards	Reptiles within the order Squamata that generally possess limbs, moveable EYELIDS, and EXTERNAL EAR openings, although there are some species which lack one or more of these structures.	Chameleons,Geckos,Chameleon,Gecko,Lizard
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D002634	Chemotaxis, Leukocyte	The movement of leukocytes in response to a chemical concentration gradient or to products formed in an immunologic reaction.	Leukotaxis,Leukocyte Chemotaxis
D005098	Exotoxins	Toxins produced, especially by bacterial or fungal cells, and released into the culture medium or environment.	Exotoxin
D005334	Fever	An abnormal elevation of body temperature, usually as a result of a pathologic process.	Pyrexia,Fevers,Pyrexias
D000333	Aeromonas	A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs singly, in pairs, or in short chains. Its organisms are found in fresh water and sewage and are pathogenic to humans, frogs, and fish.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies
D001424	Bacterial Infections	Infections by bacteria, general or unspecified.	Bacterial Disease,Bacterial Infection,Infection, Bacterial,Infections, Bacterial,Bacterial Diseases