Toxicity of Endotoxin to Chicks

Large doses of purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from Escherichia coli induced clinical signs but no mortality in chicks. Five chicks survived a mean dose of 517 mg/kg. One individual that received LPS at 577 mg/kg recovered from clinical manifestations within two days. Attempts failed to produce a generalized Shwartzman-like reaction with two intravenous inoculations of LPS at about 24-hour intervals. Prior injection of uric acid did not protect chicks from LPS by intravenous exposure.