A reproducible model for protracted peritonitis in the rabbit.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Research

Background:

• Peritonitis is a serious abdominal infection.
• Animal models are crucial for studying peritonitis.
• Human fecal material can induce severe intra-abdominal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a rabbit model of peritonitis using human fecal material.
• To investigate the dose-dependent effects of fecal inoculum on peritonitis severity and survival.
• To characterize abscess formation and infection persistence in this model.

Main Methods:

• Intra-abdominal implantation of gelatin capsules containing human fecal material in rabbits.
• Varying the volume of fecal inoculum to assess dose-dependent effects.
• Monitoring survival rates, disease severity, and the development of intra-abdominal abscesses.

Main Results:

• Implantation of fecal material successfully induced peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses in rabbits.
• Survival rates at 7 days varied significantly (45-92%) based on the volume of fecal inoculum.
• Infection persisted in surviving animals for at least one week, enabling further study.

Conclusions:

• The rabbit model with intra-abdominal human fecal material is effective for studying peritonitis.
• Fecal loading is a critical determinant of peritonitis severity and outcome in this model.
• This model allows for the investigation of various aspects of peritonitis and intra-abdominal infections.