Emesis in the shrew mouse (Suncus murinus) induced by peroral and intraperitoneal administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin A

Peroral and intraperitoneal administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) to Suncus murinus elicited an emetic response. The 50% emetic dose of SEA by peroral administration was found to be 32 mu g per kg of body weight, whereas that by intraperitoneal administration was 3 mu g per kg. Multiple emetic responses occurred 70 to 108 min after peroral administration of an emetic dose of SEA. Similar responses occurred 65 to 102 min after intraperitoneal injection of an emetic dose of SEA. No significant difference in vomiting was observed between male and female animals. Anti-SEA serum neutralized SEA-induced emesis in S. murinus. These findings indicate that S. murinus may serve as a suitable animal model to study the enterotoxigenicity of SEA.