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Embryonated chicken eggs: An experimental model for Pythium insidiosum infection.
Camila M Verdi1, Francielli P K Jesus2, Glaucia Kommers3
1Laboratório de Pesquisas Micológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
Mycoses
|October 4, 2017
Summary
Embryonated chicken eggs offer a promising alternative model for studying pythiosis (a severe disease caused by Pythium insidiosum), reducing animal use. This model effectively replicates infection, aiding pythiosis research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Pythiosis is a severe, life-threatening disease caused by the oomycete Pythium insidiosum.
- Current research relies heavily on rabbit models, necessitating the development of animal-alternative experimental systems.
- Reducing animal use in scientific research is a critical ethical and practical consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a novel experimental infection model for pythiosis utilizing embryonated chicken eggs.
- To assess the feasibility of using chicken embryos as a surrogate for traditional animal models in pythiosis research.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of embryonated chicken eggs (at 3 and 14 days of embryonic development) with varying concentrations of Pythium insidiosum zoospores.
- Monitoring of embryo survival rates and time to mortality post-inoculation.
- Confirmation of infection through microbial culture, PCR, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Increased zoospore concentration correlated with decreased embryo survival time.
- Infection on embryonic day 14 led to significant mortality, with 95% of embryos dying within 72 hours post-inoculation.
- Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed Pythium insidiosum hyphae within embryo tissues, particularly umbilical cord blood vessels.
Conclusions:
- Embryonated chicken eggs provide a reproducible and effective model for studying pythiosis.
- This avian embryo model serves as a viable alternative to rabbit models, supporting the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in animal experimentation.
- The model facilitates the investigation of Pythium insidiosum pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies.
