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Four pigs were injected intravenously twice at a 24-hour interval with disintegrated cells of Haemophilus parainfluenzae and killed 24 h later. Two of the pigs developed bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BCN) and renal and extrarenal vascular lesions characterized by fibrinous thrombosis and fibrinoid degeneration. The BCN is interpreted as being the result of a generalized Shwartzman reaction to bacterial endotoxin. The experiment supports the view that the vascular lesions accompanying outbreaks of Haemophilus infections in swine are due to a generalized Shwartzman reaction.

Six cases representing three species, previously diagnosed as bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BCN), were studied histologically. One horse had vascular lesions including fibrinoid necrosis and fibrinous thrombi in various organs. Intrarenally these lesions occurred in interlobular arteries, afferent arterioles, and glomeruli. Another horse had bilateral renal glomerular thrombosis but no extra-glomerular vascular lesion. Distinct fibrinous deposition in the renal vessels did not occur among the other four cases. A comparison is drawn between the characteristic lesions in the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR) and BCN as diagnosed in our autopsy material. The renal alterations were compatible with GSR in two horses only among the six cases.