Open AccessInfant Rabbit Model for Diarrheal Diseases
Author(s) -
Abel Sören,
Waldor Matthew K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
current protocols in microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1934-8533
pISSN - 1934-8525
DOI - 10.1002/9780471729259.mc06a06s38
Subject(s) - vibrio cholerae , cholera , diarrheal disease , biology , diarrhea , diarrheal diseases , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , inoculation , animal model , colonization , cholera toxin , cholera vaccine , immunology , bacteria , medicine , pathology , genetics , endocrinology
Vibrio cholerae is the agent of cholera, a potentially lethal diarrheal disease that remains a significant threat to populations in developing nations. The infant rabbit model of cholera is the only non‐surgical small animal model system that closely mimics human cholera. Following orogastric inoculation, V. cholerae colonizes the intestines of infant rabbits, and the animals develop severe cholera‐like diarrhea. In this unit, we provide a detailed description of the preparation of the V. cholerae inoculum, the inoculation process and the collection and processing of tissue samples. This infection model is useful for studies of V. cholerae factors and mechanisms that promote its intestinal colonization and enterotoxicity, as well as the host response to infection. The infant rabbit model of cholera enables investigations that will further our understanding of the pathophysiology of cholera and provides a platform for testing new therapeutics. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.