Animal models for the study of osteomyelitis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Infectious Diseases
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Osteomyelitis is a complex bone infection with varied presentations.
• Clinical studies are challenging due to the disease's diverse pathophysiology.
• Animal models are essential for in vivo research on osteomyelitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a literature review of existing animal models for osteomyelitis.
• To identify models based on historical relevance and clinical applicability.
• To aid investigators in selecting appropriate models for experimental osteomyelitis research.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed and OVID on March 31, 2008.
• Utilized keywords: osteomyelitis, experimental osteomyelitis, and specific animal models (rabbit, rat, mouse, avian, dog, sheep, goat).
• Selected models for review based on historical significance and clinical relevance.

Main Results:

• Numerous animal models have been developed to study both acute and chronic osteomyelitis.
• Various models facilitate research into different aspects of osteomyelitis diagnosis and treatment.
• No single animal model fully replicates all facets of human osteomyelitis.

Conclusions:

• A variety of animal models are available for osteomyelitis research.
• Careful selection of an animal model is critical for successful experimental design.
• The choice of model should align with the specific research objectives for studying bone infections.