Experimental sinusitis in nasally catheterised rabbits
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Published on: July 31, 2021
Ciğdem Banu Cetin1, Cüneyt Orhan Kara, Nagihan Colakoğlu
1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey. cbcetin@superonline.co
Aim:
The aim of the study was to create an experimental rabbit model for investigating the effects of nasal catheterization on rhinosinus mucosa, bacterial flora and observing the development of bacterial sinusitis.
Methods:
Healthy adult white rabbits of either sex and with body weights of 2.5-3 kg were used. Rabbits were randomly separated into two groups; the first group was catheterized by 12 French and the second group was catheterized by 8 French catheters blindly and the non-catheterized left sides were accepted as control. Three randomly chosen rabbits from each group were examined by computerized tomography scans (CT) and sacrified in the first, second and the fourth week of the study. Microbiological and histopathological examinations were performed.
Results:
In both study groups after the first week of nasal catheterization, opacity or air-fluid level was detected in maxillary sinuses by CT scans, which was significant in group 1. Inflammation spread by the prolongation of nasal catheterization and rapidly development of sinusitis was observed by thicker catheters' usage.
Conclusion:
In this study, the role of nasal catheterization as a predisposing factor in the development of sinusitis and the increase of sinusitis development risk in relation with the catheterization period and the catheters' thickness was shown.
