A reproducible model for protracted peritonitis in the rabbit.

The intra-abdominal implantation of a gelatin capsule containing human fecal material introduces peritonitis in the rabbit. The severity of the disease and the length of survival depend on the volume of the inoculum. A 7-day survival chance varies between 45 and 92%, depending on fecal loading. All rabbits develop intra-abdominal abscesses and in the surviving animals infection persists for at least a week, allowing further study of several aspects of peritonitis.