An Escherichia coli strain isolated from a patient with severe cholera-like diarrhea elaborates a partly heat-labile enterotoxin shown to cause prompt adenyl cyclase stimulation and isotonic fluid secretion by canine jejunum. Both responses disappear upon removal of the enterotoxin. The duration of action of a submaximal dose of this E. coli enterotoxin was brief, despite sustained exposure to the jejunum, suggesting inactivation of the enterotoxin by its interaction with the mucosa. Inoculation of whole bacterial cultures of this E. coli strain into canine duodenum was followed by bacterial survival and induction of net secretion after 4-7 h. The onset of fluid production was associated with increasing gut mucosal adenyl cyclase activity. Washed bacterial cells could also produce fluid secretion. In vivo multiplication of this enterotoxin-producing E. coli was demonstrated 6-12 h after intraduodenal inoculation of approximately 10(6) organisms. This was associated with fluid secretion. Intestinal fluid production occurred without microscopic pathology in the mucosa.