title: Evaluation of Presurgical Skin Preparation Agents in African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus laevis).
abstract: Despite the routine collection of oocytes from African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) for use in research, few studies have evaluated methods for preparing their skin for surgery. We evaluated 3 skin preparatory agents by examining their antibacterial efficacy and the gross and microscopic appearance of Xenopus skin after exposure. Frogs (n = 14) were sedated and treated (contact time, 10 min) with 0.9% sterile NaCl on one-half of the ventrum and with 0.5% povidone-iodine or 0.75% chlorhexidine on the other half. Bacterial cultures were obtained before and after skin treatment; bacteria were identified by mass spectrometry. To assess inflammation and degenerative changes, the incision sites were photographed and biopsied at 0, 1, and 7 d after surgery. We isolated at least 22 genera of bacteria from the skin of our frog population (mean ± SE, 5.21 ± 0.82 genera per frog). Iodine (2.00 ± 0.44 genera) and chlorhexidine (0.29 ± 0.76 genera) both had greater antimicrobial activity than did saline. Skin erythema did not correlate with treatment group. Histologic evidence of epidermal degeneration and necrosis was greater on days 1 and 7 after chlorhexidine treatment than after iodine or saline. In addition, frogs treated with chlorhexidine had a higher incidence of clinical illness associated with the exposure site. In summary, although chlorhexidine has adequate antimicrobial activity against organisms on X. laevis skin, it leads to skin damage and subsequent clinical complications. We therefore do not recommend chlorhexidine as a preoperative preparation agent in Xenopus.
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory Animal Resources, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Blythe H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.affiliation: IDEXX BioResearch, Columbia, Missouri, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory Animal Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: F Claire
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hankenson
authors.affiliation: IDEXX BioResearch, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Earl K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory Animal Resources, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Angela K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Brice
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory Animal Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. carty2@upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Carty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000662:veterinary; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D002710:Chlorhexidine