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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can J Vet Res / The rabbit as an infection model for equine proliferative en...
Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2013; 77(2); 110-119;

The rabbit as an infection model for equine proliferative enteropathy.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the susceptibility of rabbits to Lawsonia intracellularis obtained from a case of clinical equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). This is a preliminary step toward developing a rabbit infection model for studying pathogenesis and therapy of EPE in horses. Nine does were equally assigned to 3 groups. Animals in 2 groups (Group 1 and Group 2) were orally inoculated with different doses of cell-cultured L. intracellularis. Controls (Group 3) were sham-inoculated. Feces and blood were collected before the rabbits were infected and at 7, 14, and 21 days post-infection (DPI). Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were measured using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) and fecal samples were analyzed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A doe from each group was euthanized at 7, 14, and 21 DPI for collection and evaluation of intestinal samples. Tissues were stained by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) method and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with L. intracellularis-specific mouse monoclonal antibody. At 14 DPI, serologic responses were detected in both infected groups, which maintained high titers through to 21 DPI. Lawsonia intracellularis DNA was detected in the feces of Group 2 on 7 DPI and in both infected groups on 14 DPI. Gross lesions were apparent in Group 1 and Group 2 on 14 DPI. Immunohistochemistry confirmed L. intracellularis antigen within cells of rabbits in Group 1 and Group 2 on 7, 14, and 21 DPI. No lesions, serologic response, shedding, or IHC labeling were found in Group 3 rabbits. This study describes an EPE rabbit model that simulates natural infection, as typical lesions, immune response, and fecal shedding were present. Cette étude visait à démontrer la susceptibilité des lapins à Lawsonia intracellularis obtenu d’un cas clinique d’entéropathie proliférative équine (EPE). Ceci est une étape préliminaire dans le développement d’un modèle d’infection chez le lapin pour étudier la pathogénie et le traitement de l’EPE chez les chevaux. Neuf lapines ont été assignées également à 3 groupes. Les animaux dans deux groupes (Groupe 1 et Groupe 2) ont été inoculés oralement avec différentes doses de L. intracellularis cultivés sur cellules. Les témoins (Groupe 3) étaient faussement inoculés. Des fèces et du sang ont été prélevés avant que les lapins soient infectés et aux jours 7, 14 et 21 post-infection (DPI). Les titres sériques d’immunoglobulines G (IgG) ont été mesurés par une épreuve d’immunoperoxydase en monocouche (IPMA) et les échantillons de fèces ont été analysés par réaction quantitative d’amplification en chaîne par la polymérase (qPCR). Une lapine de chaque groupe a été euthanasiée 7, 14 et 21 DPI pour prélèvement et évaluation d’échantillons intestinaux. Les tissus étaient colorés à l’aide d’hématoxyline et éosine (H&E) et en immunohistochime (IHC) avec un anticorps monoclonal de souris spécifique à L. intracellularis. Au jour 14 post-infection, une réponse sérologique a été détectée chez les animaux des deux groupes infectés, et des titres élevés ont été maintenus jusqu’à 21 DPI. De l’ADN de L. intracellularis fut détecté dans les fèces du Groupe 2 au jour 7 PI et dans les 2 groupes infectés au jour 14 PI. Des lésions macroscopiques étaient apparentes dans le Groupe 1 et le Groupe 2 au jour 14 PI. L’immunohistochime a confirmé la présence d’antigène de L. intracellularis à l’intérieur des cellules de lapins dans les Groupes 1 et 2 aux jours 7, 14 et 21 PI. Aucune lésion, réponse sérologique, excrétion, ou marquage en IHC n’ont été trouvés chez les lapins du Groupe 3. La présente étude décrit un modèle lapin d’EPE qui imite l’infection naturelle, étant donné la présence de lésions typiques, de réponse immunitaire et d’excrétion fécale.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).
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Publication Date: 2013-10-02 PubMed ID: 24082402PubMed Central: PMC3605926
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study aims to prove that rabbits can be used as an infection model to study equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), a disease in horses caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis. By confirming the rabbits’ vulnerability to this bacterium, scientists can develop better understanding of the disease to improve treatments for horses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The researchers divided nine female rabbits into three equal groups.
  • The two test groups (Group 1 and Group 2) were orally infected (inoculated) with distinct doses of cell-cultured L. intracellularis. Meanwhile, the control group (Group 3) were sham-inoculated, meaning they underwent a similar process but were not actually infected.
  • Before inoculation and at various points post-inoculation (day 7, 14, and 21), they collected feces and blood samples from all the rabbits.
  • Using a specific lab test (IPMA), they measured the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers, an indicator of the rabbits’ immune responses.
  • They also performed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on the fecal samples to detect the presence of L. intracellularis DNA.
  • A rabbit from each group was euthanized at 7, 14, and 21 days post-infection to collect and examine intestinal samples.
  • The researchers carried out histology (H&E staining) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on these tissue samples.

Study Findings

  • On day 14 post-infection, serologic responses indicating immune activity were identified in the infected groups (Group 1 and Group 2), and these remained high until day 21 post-infection.
  • L. intracellularis DNA was discerned in the feces of rabbits in Group 2 on day 7, and in both infected groups on day 14.
  • Gross lesions, evident signs of the disease, were noticeable in the infected groups on day 14.
  • IHC confirmed the presence of L. intracellularis within the rabbits’ cells in both infected groups across all time points.
  • No indications of disease, such as lesions, immune response, bacterial shedding or IHC labeling were found in Group 3 rabbits.

Conclusion

  • This research successfully demonstrates a preliminary rabbit infection model for studying EPE in horses, successfully mimicking natural infection.
  • The model reflected typical illness symptoms, immune responses, and bacterial shedding, providing a viable tool for further studying the pathogenesis and treatment of EPE.
  • However, additional studies would be useful to expand and corroborate these findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Sampieri F, Allen AL, Pusterla N, Vannucci FA, Antonopoulos AJ, Ball KR, Thompson J, Dowling PM, Hamilton DL, Gebhart CJ. (2013). The rabbit as an infection model for equine proliferative enteropathy. Can J Vet Res, 77(2), 110-119.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 77
Issue: 2
Pages: 110-119

Researcher Affiliations

Sampieri, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences (Sampieri, Antonopoulos, Ball, Dowling, Hamilton), Department of Veterinary Pathology (Allen), Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA (Pusterla); Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA (Vannucci, Gebhart); Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Thompson).
Allen, Andrew L
    Pusterla, Nicola
      Vannucci, Fabio A
        Antonopoulos, Aphroditi J
          Ball, Katherine R
            Thompson, Julie
              Dowling, Patricia M
                Hamilton, Don L
                  Gebhart, Connie J

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / veterinary
                    • Enteritis / microbiology
                    • Enteritis / pathology
                    • Enteritis / veterinary
                    • Feces / microbiology
                    • Female
                    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
                    • Horses
                    • Jejunal Diseases / microbiology
                    • Jejunal Diseases / pathology
                    • Jejunal Diseases / veterinary
                    • Jejunum / pathology
                    • Lawsonia Bacteria
                    • Polymerase Chain Reaction
                    • Rabbits

                    Grant Funding

                    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research

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                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 4 times.
                    1. Yeh JY. Prevalence and associated risk factors for Lawsonia intracellularis infection in farmed rabbits: A serological and molecular cross-sectional study in South Korea. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1058113.
                      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1058113pubmed: 36846246google scholar: lookup
                    2. Cooper TK, Meyerholz DK, Beck AP, Delaney MA, Piersigilli A, Southard TL, Brayton CF. Research-Relevant Conditions and Pathology of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Naked Mole Rats, and Rabbits. ILAR J 2021 Dec 31;62(1-2):77-132.
                      doi: 10.1093/ilar/ilab022pubmed: 34979559google scholar: lookup
                    3. Sampieri F, Vannucci FA, Allen AL, Pusterla N, Antonopoulos AJ, Ball KR, Thompson J, Dowling PM, Hamilton DL, Gebhart CJ. Species-specificity of equine and porcine Lawsonia intracellularis isolates in laboratory animals. Can J Vet Res 2013 Oct;77(4):261-72.
                      pubmed: 24124268
                    4. Pusterla N, Gebhart C. Lawsonia intracellularis infection and proliferative enteropathy in foals. Vet Microbiol 2013 Nov 29;167(1-2):34-41.
                      doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.06.017pubmed: 23871678google scholar: lookup
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