Smego R A, Durack D T
J Parasitol. 1984 Feb;70(1):78-81.
A new model was developed in rabbits for primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rare disease caused by the free-living ameba, Naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri was cultured in a liquid axenic medium, and then injected intracisternally into New Zealand White rabbits. Inocula of 10(3) or 10(5) trophozoites consistently produced a sanguinopurulent meningitis; duration of survival of rabbits was 57 or 45 hr, respectively. Counts of cells in cerebrospinal fluid were proportional to the size of inoculum used; white blood cell counts ranged from 30 to 1,055 cells/mm3, and red blood cell counts from five to 8,640 cells/mm3. Necropsies revealed severe basilar meningoencephalitis with extensive hemorrhagic necrosis and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration. Trophozoites of N. fowleri were seen within the meningeal exudate and the brain parenchyma. Potential applications of this model include studies of the host response to amebae in the CSF, evaluation of the optimal route of administration of amphotericin B, and in vivo studies of other chemotherapeutic agents that show in vitro efficacy.
一种针对原发性阿米巴脑膜脑炎（一种由自由生活的阿米巴原虫——福氏耐格里阿米巴引起的罕见疾病）的兔类新模型被建立起来。福氏耐格里阿米巴在液体无共生培养基中培养，然后经脑池内注射到新西兰白兔体内。接种10³或10⁵个滋养体始终会引发脓性血性脑膜炎；兔子的存活时间分别为57小时或45小时。脑脊液中的细胞计数与所用接种物的大小成正比；白细胞计数范围为30至1055个细胞/立方毫米，红细胞计数范围为5至8640个细胞/立方毫米。尸检显示严重的基底脑膜脑炎，伴有广泛的出血性坏死和多形核细胞浸润。在脑膜渗出物和脑实质内可见福氏耐格里阿米巴的滋养体。该模型的潜在应用包括研究宿主对脑脊液中阿米巴的反应、评估两性霉素B的最佳给药途径，以及对其他在体外显示出疗效的化疗药物进行体内研究。
