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Published on: September 12, 2019
The rabbit as an infection model for equine proliferative enteropathy
Francesca Sampieri1, Andrew L Allen, Nicola Pusterla
1Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences (Sampieri, Antonopoulos, Ball, Dowling, Hamilton), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Allen), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA (Pusterla); Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA (Vannucci, Gebhart); Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Thompson).
Rabbits are susceptible to Lawsonia intracellularis, the bacteria causing equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). This study successfully developed a rabbit infection model, showing typical lesions and immune responses, paving the way for EPE research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is a significant disease in horses.
- Understanding the pathogenesis and developing therapies for EPE requires suitable animal models.
- Lawsonia intracellularis is the causative agent of EPE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a rabbit model for Lawsonia intracellularis infection.
- To assess rabbit susceptibility to L. intracellularis from clinical EPE cases.
- To provide a preliminary step for future EPE pathogenesis and therapy studies.
Main Methods:
- Oral inoculation of rabbits with varying doses of cell-cultured L. intracellularis.
- Monitoring fecal shedding via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
- Assessing serological response using immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers via immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA).
- Histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of intestinal tissues.
Main Results:
- Rabbits developed serological responses by 14 days post-infection (DPI), with high IgG titers persisting.
- L. intracellularis DNA was detected in feces from 7 DPI onwards in infected groups.
- Gross lesions and IHC-confirmed L. intracellularis antigen were observed in intestinal tissues from 7 DPI to 21 DPI.
- Control groups showed no signs of infection, confirming model specificity.
Conclusions:
- Rabbits are susceptible to L. intracellularis, supporting their use as an EPE model.
- The developed rabbit model mimics key aspects of natural EPE infection, including lesions, immune response, and shedding.
- This model serves as a valuable tool for future research into EPE pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
