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Isolation of Streptobacillus moniliformis from the middle ear of rats

J P Koopman1, M E Van den Brink, P P Vennix

  • 1Central Animal Laboratory, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Laboratory Animals
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Streptobacillus moniliformis was found in the middle ear of over half the rats in an otological study. Most rats also showed antibodies, indicating a widespread infection, though its source remains unknown.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Science
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Streptobacillus moniliformis is a bacterium known to cause infections in rodents.
  • Otological studies in rats can be complicated by middle ear infections.
  • Understanding the prevalence of S. moniliformis in research animals is crucial for study validity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of Streptobacillus moniliformis in the middle ear of rats used for otological research.
  • To determine the serological response to S. moniliformis infection in these rats.

Main Methods:

  • Bacterial isolation from middle ear samples of 16 rats.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti-Streptobacillus moniliformis antibodies in rat sera.

Main Results:

  • Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from the middle ear of 9 out of 16 rats (56.25%).
  • Antibodies against S. moniliformis were detected in 15 out of 16 rats (93.75%) using ELISA.
  • The specific origin or source of the S. moniliformis infection could not be identified.

Conclusions:

  • Streptobacillus moniliformis infection is highly prevalent in rats utilized for otological studies.
  • A significant serological response suggests widespread exposure to the bacterium within the study population.
  • Further investigation is needed to identify the source of S. moniliformis to mitigate its impact on animal research.

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