Histopathology in a murine model of anthrax.
Systemic anthrax infection is usually fatal even with optimal medical care. Further insights into anthrax pathogenesis are therefore urgently needed to develop more effective therapies. Animal models that reproduce human disease will facilitate this research. Here, we describe the detailed histopathology of systemic anthrax infection in A/J mice infected with Bacillus anthracis Sterne, a strain with reduced virulence for humans. Subcutaneous infection leads to systemic disease with multiple pathologies including oedema, haemorrhage, secondary pneumonia and lymphocytolysis. These pathologies bear marked similarity to primary pathologies observed during human disease. Therefore, this simple, small animal model will allow researchers to study the major pathologies observed in humans, while permitting experimentation in more widely available Biosafety Level 2 facilities.
Duong
Scott
S
Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Chiaraviglio
Lucius
L
Kirby
James E
JE
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence