Table 4.
Rabbit models of orthopedic infections.
| Model/Strain | Gender | Age/Weight | Microorganism/Concentration | Disease Model | Site of Inoculum | Osteomyelitis Induction | Timepoint | Aim of the Study | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbits | na | 2–2.25 lb | S. aureus | HO and direct inoculation | Metaphysis of the tibia | 5% sodium morrhuate | 8 weeks | Preliminary report on new method of producing experimental osteomyelitis in rabbits |
The authors were able to keep the animals alive for an indefinite period (at least 8 weeks). |
[122] |
| New Zealand white rabbits | na | 4–4.5 lb |
S. aureus phage type 52/52A/80 (field strain isolated from a child with osteomyelitis), S. aureus 209 P and P. mirabilis (field strain from a urinary–tract infection). 3 × 106 CFU (S. aureus phage type 52/52A/80 only). |
Chronic osteomyelitis | Tibial medullary cavity | 5% sodium morrhuate | 60–180 days | To establish a model of chronic osteomyelitis. | The injection of S. aureus together with sodium morrhuate could induce osteomyelitis. Animal inoculated with P. mirabilis showed the same radiologic lesions observed from those infected with S. aureus | [158] |
| New Zealand white rabbits | F | 3–6 kg |
S. aureus. 2 × 104, 2 × 105, 2 × 106, 2 × 107, 2 × 108, 2 × 109 CFU |
Implant–related osteomyelitis | Tibial marrow cavity | na | 180 days | A new model of chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis | The results of this study indicate that chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis can be produced in the rabbit tibia in the presence of a metallic implant. |
[190] |
| New Zealand white rabbits | M | >3.5 kg |
S. aureus (phage type 29). 105, 106, 107 CFU |
Implant–related osteomyelitis | Tibial medullary cavity | na | 8 weeks | To develop a model of induced implant–associated osteomyelitis following fracture repair | The study was successful in developing a model that could be used for other studies in osteomyelitis | [194] |
| New Zealand white rabbits | na | na |
Bacteroides fragilis. 107 CFU |
Single strain osteomyelitis infection | Medullary cavity of the proximal tibial metaphysis | na | 18 weeks | To test a new anaerobic osteomyelitis model | This method gave a high infection rate with reproducible immunologic, roentgenographic, and histologic reactions | [196] |
| Chinchilla–Bastard rabbits | F | 3.25–4.79 kg |
S. aureus. 3 × 105 CFU |
Implant–related osteomyelitis | Proximal end of the femur | 0.1 mL 5% sodium morrhuate | 6–8 weeks | To find a rabbit model to perform more local therapeutic strategies on the infected bone | The new technique did not influence the motion of the hind limb and mimicked well the intramedullary pinning of long fractured bones, but it did pose some risks for postoperative infections | [197] |
| New Zealand White rabbits | M | ±4.2 kg | MRSA. 0 CFU in one knee and 104 CFU in the contralateral knee (Group A) 102 CFU in one knee and 103 CFU in the contralateral knee (Group B). |
Implant–related osteomyelitis | Knee | na | 7 days | To design and evaluate a novel small animal model for the investigation of biomaterial centered infection in total joint arthroplasty | This model closely simulates the biologics, and not the mechanics, of human prosthetic knee replacement and is a valuable tool to develop new systemic and local anti–infective strategies | [199] |
| New Zealand White rabbits | M and F | 7–8 months, 2.04 ± 0.09 kg | na | Segmental bone defect in the radial diaphysis |
Radius bone | na | 30 days | Development of a novel atrophic non–union model in rabbits | The radiographic signs of healing were completely absent in all the rabbits on 30th postoperative day, indicating inert bone ends. |
[203] |
Abbreviations: na = not available.