Experimental Study On Modeling Of Rabbit Spinal Tuberculosis

Objective: To drill and plant M. tuberculosis H37 Rv standard strains in the lumbar vertebra of New Zealand white rabbits to build the spinal tuberculosis model, so as to provide animal models for future fundamental researches on bone tuberculosis. Method:Drill bone holes on the top of the 5th lumbar vertebra near the intervertebral disk of the non-sensitized New Zealand white rabbits and fill in gelatin sponge to adsorb TB suspension(bacteria amount:0.5mg/0.1ml) for modeling,and set the vacant group. After the operation, inspect and confirm the models by general observation,images,histopathology, bacteriology and other means. Results: After infection of H37 Rv TB strains on the lumbar vertebra of New Zealand white rabbits, we observed enormous partial reaction but body reaction was not so obvious. 38 rabbits in the infection group completed the experiment(38/48), of which, 15 rabbits showed getting thinner, anorexia,surgical swelling and other symptoms(15/38); 2 months after the operation, there were 4X-ray positive rabbits(4/8); 3 months after the operation, surgical operations were conducted to expose the vertebrae of the affected rabbits, of which, 29 rabbits showed vertebral insect bite-like changes(29/38), and rabbit pus culture formed by abscess in the infection group showed the growth of M. Tuberculosis. The rate of successful modeling was 76.3%(29/38). Conclusion: Planting infection of appropriate dose of standard strain of H37 Rv tuberculosis in the vertebrae of non-sensitized rabbits can build rabbit spinal tuberculosis similar to the pathological changes of human spinal tuberculosis. The model can be successfully confirmed by symptoms, images, bacteriology, surgical exposure and other means.