Evaluation of cecal ligation as a model of mucoid enteropathy in specific-pathogen-free rabbits

Mucoid enteropathy is a serious disease of rabbits, the cause of which is unknown. Ligation of the cecum has been reported to cause a mucoid enteropathy-like syndrome in 70% of conventional rabbits. The goal of this study was to evaluate this model of mucoid enteropathy in Pasteurella-free, coccidia-free rabbits for use in future studies. Five rabbits served as unoperated controls (group 1). Eight rabbits underwent ligation of the cecum, with large vessels and nerves spared (group 2). In six rabbits the distal branch of the ileocecocolic vessels and nerve were incorporated into the cecal ligature (group 3). At necropsy 3 to 5 days after surgery, all group-3 rabbits had copious amounts of clear, gelatinous mucus in the colon. Only one group-2 rabbit had grossly evident mucus hypersecretion, whereas none of the group-1 rabbits did. Group-3 rabbits had areas of necrosis in the cecum; this was not seen in group-1 or group-2 rabbits. Rabbits of groups 2 and 3 had inflammation of the distal portion of the colon. In specific-pathogen-free rabbits cecal ligation alone did not reliably stimulate mucus hypersecretion but induced a disease similar to natural mucoid enteropathy. Cecal ligation including vessels provided a reproducible syndrome of mucus hypersecretion; however, the severe cecal necrosis was not consistent with the naturally acquired disease.