title: Two bacterial infection models in tree shrew for evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial agents.
abstract: Animal models are essential for the development of new anti-infectious drugs. Although some bacterial infection models have been established in rodents, small primate models are rare. Here, we report on two bacterial infection models established in tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis). A burnt skin infection model was induced by dropping 5×10(6) CFU of Staphylococcus aureus on the surface of a wound after a third degree burn. This dose of S. aureus caused persistent infection for 7 days and obvious inflammatory response was observed 4 days after inoculation. A Dacron graft infection model, 2×10(6) CFU of Pseudomonas aeruginosa also caused persistent infection for 6 days, with large amounts of pus observed 3 days after inoculation. These models were used to evaluate the efficacy of levofloxacin (LEV) and cefoperazone (CPZ), which reduced the viable bacteria in skin to 4log10 and 5log10 CFU/100 mg tissue, respectively. The number of bacteria in graft was significantly reduced by 4log10 CFU/mL treatment compared to the untreated group (P<0.05). These results suggest that two bacterial infection models were successfully established in tree shrew using P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. In addition, tree shrew was susceptible to P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, thus making it an ideal bacterial infection animal model for the evaluation of new antimicrobials.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-An
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014417:Tupaia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents