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Serratia marcescens keratitis: strain-specific corneal pathogenesis in rabbits
E B Hume1, L L Conerly, J M Moreau
1Louisiana State University Medical Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, New Orleans, LA 70112-1393, USA.
Current Eye Research
|November 7, 1999
Summary
A new rabbit model for Serratia keratitis was developed. This model effectively shows reproducible bacterial growth and distinct, strain-specific ocular pathology in Serratia marcescens infections.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Serratia marcescens is a significant cause of microbial keratitis.
- Developing reliable animal models is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis and evaluating treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reproducible rabbit model of Serratia keratitis.
- To demonstrate strain-specific pathological differences in Serratia marcescens infections.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of Serratia marcescens strains (ocular and environmental) in vitro (motility, metabolic profiles, ribotypes, protease production).
- Intrastromal injection into rabbit corneas.
- Serial slit-lamp examination (SLE) and bacterial enumeration for 30 hours post-infection.
Main Results:
- All strains exhibited logarithmic growth in the cornea up to 6 hours.
- Strain-specific differences in corneal pathology and inflammation were observed between 18 and 30 hours post-infection.
- Strain 93-1399-1 caused severe keratitis and iritis; strain 94-EI-185-2 caused iritis with mild corneal changes; strain ATCC 14041 formed a localized corneal abscess.
Conclusions:
- A reproducible rabbit model for studying Serratia keratitis was successfully developed.
- The model allows for the observation of bacterial kinetics and distinct, strain-dependent ocular disease manifestations.
