title: Evaluation of the ability of an experimental model to induce bacterial rhinosinusitis in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For decades, animals have been used in sinonasal experimental models, and the practice has increased substantially in the last few years. This study aimed to assess the pathogenesis of infectious process and medication efficiency to treat rhinosinusitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed experimental model to induce an acute bacterial sinonasal infectious process through histological analysis and sinus secretion cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an experimental study with 22 New Zealand rabbits, divided into: group A (six rabbits), group B (seven rabbits), group C (seven rabbits), and group D (control group with two rabbits). Rhinosinusitis was induced by the insertion of a synthetic sponge into the right nasal cavity of 20 animals (study groups), followed by the instillation of bacterial strains (50% Staphylococcus sp. and 50% Streptococcus sp.). The groups were euthanized within 10 days (group A), 17 days (group B), and 30 days (groups C and D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the rabbits of the study group developed acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, which was diagnosed through macroscopic evaluation, histological analysis, and sinus secretion culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed model is technically simple to perform, it is similar to the rhinogenic model in human beings, and it is highly efficient to reproduce an acute bacterial sinus infection.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: eduardodolci@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo Landini Lutaif
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Dolci
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto Correia de
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo da
authors.initials: Ld
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Landini Lutaif
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dolci
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Eduardo Lutaif
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dolci
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Animal models; Coelhos; Modelos animais; Rabbits; Sinusite; Sinusitis