Production of Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis in infant rats by intraperitoneal inoculation.
Sprague-Dawley rats have a marked age-related susceptibility to Haemophilus influenzae type b that does not correlate with serum bactericidal activity. Eighty percent of 5-day-old animals that survive to 48 h after an intraperitoneal inoculation of a mean lethal dose of bacteria have histologically documented meningitis. Animals surviving the inoculations as infants manifest cerebral dysfunction as adults. This model should facilitate experimental study of bacterial meningitis.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D007109:Immunity; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D004247:DNA