Animal models of pneumocystosis.
Abstract: As in vitro culture systems allowing to isolate Pneumocystis samples from patients or other mammal hosts are still not available, animal models have critical importance in Pneumocystis research. The parasite was reported in numerous mammals but P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) experimental models were essentially developed by using rats, mice, rabbits and ferrets. The rat treated with corticosteroids for 9-12 weeks is a useful PCP model. Like laboratory rats, conventional mice develop PCP after prolonged corticosteroid administration. The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) also develop PCP under corticosteroid regime. Whilst bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is really difficult to perform on live laboratory rodents, serial BAL sampling can be performed on live ferrets. Rabbits currently develop spontaneous PCP at weaning without corticosteroid administration. For this reason this model has been used for studying the host immune response as well as Pneumocystis-surfactant interactions. Pigs and horses also develop spontaneous PCP. Treated with corticosteroids, piglets develop extensive PCP and could be used as a non-rodent model. Pneumocystis was detected in many non-human primates. Primates could represent a source of parasites taxonomically related to P. carinii sp. f. hominis. Moreover, primates might be used as experimental hosts to human Pneumocystis. A marked variability of parasite levels among corticosteroid-treated animals and the fact that the origin of the parasite strain remains unknown, are important drawbacks of the corticosteroid-treated models. For these reasons, inoculated animal models of PCP were developed. The intratracheal inoculation of lung homogenates containing viable parasites in corticosteroid-treated non-latently infected rats resulted in extensive, reproducible Pneumocystis infections. Extensive PCP can be obtained within 5-7 weeks, whilst 9-12 weeks are needed in the classical model. The severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse inoculated by nasal route and the athymic nude rats intratracheally inoculated were used to test the infectivity of Pneumocystis samples coming from cultures or from different hosts. They were also used to test the anti-Pneumocystis activity of antimicrobial molecules.
Publication Date: 1998-10-29 PubMed ID: 9792075DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.1998.tb01201.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research discusses the importance of animal models in studying Pneumocystis- a type of fungal infection often seen in immunocompromised individuals. Scientists primarily use rats, mice, rabbits and ferrets for developing these models. Variability in parasite levels and unknown origin of parasite strains present challenges. Therefore, inoculated animal models are being developed for more predictable research outcomes.
Importance of Animal Models in Pneumocystis Research
- As no in vitro culture systems exist for isolating Pneumocystis samples from patients or hosts, animal models become essential for studying the disease.
- Various mammals such as rats, mice, rabbits and ferrets have been used in developing experimental models of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a type of pneumocystosis.
Use of Different Animals in PCP Models
- Rats and mice treated with corticosteroids are commonly used in PCP models. Rabbits develop spontaneous PCP at weaning, providing a way to study host immune responses and interactions between Pneumocystis and lung surfactants.
- Other animals such as pigs, horses and ferrets also develop this disease, with ferrets being particularly useful for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sampling, as it is difficult to perform on live rodents.
- These animals, when treated with corticosteroids, serve as valuable, non-rodent models for studying PCP.
Challenges in Using Corticosteroid-Treated Models
- While treating animals with corticosteroids can induce Pneumocystis infections, there exists a significant variability in parasite levels among treated animals.
- The source of the Pneumocystis strain used in these experiments often remains unknown.
Use of Inoculated Animal Models
- To overcome these challenges, inoculated animal models of PCP were developed, involving the intratracheal inoculation of lung homogenates containing parasites in corticosteroid-treated non-latently infected rats.
- This technique results in more reproducible and extensive Pneumocystis infections.
- Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and athymic nude rats were also used for testing the infectivity of Pneumocystis samples from different hosts.
Cite This Article
APA
Dei-Cas E, Brun-Pascaud M, Bille-Hansen V, Allaert A, Aliouat EM.
(1998).
Animal models of pneumocystosis.
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 22(1-2), 163-168.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.1998.tb01201.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Medicine and Regional University Hospital Centre, Lille, France. eduardo.dei-cas@pasteur-lille.fr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Models, Animal
- Humans
- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
Citations
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