Studies on the presence of endotoxin activity and inflammatory products (leukotrienes) in cases of experimentally induced heartwater in sheep.

The presence of endotoxin was examined in seven sheep with experimentally induced heartwater. Elevations in endotoxin levels were recorded in one sampling in three of the seven sheep during the acute stage of the disease. The elevations in endotoxin levels were of short duration and decreased in the 24-h follow-up samples. There was no elevation of leukotrienes (B4, C4 and D4) in the blood, or the thoracic or pericardial fluid of any of the sheep.