Zaucha G M, Pitt L M, Estep J, Ivins B E, Friedlander A M
Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702-5011, USA.
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1998 Nov;122(11):982-92.
Although rhesus monkeys are considered to be an appropriate model for inhalational anthrax in humans, an alternative for vaccine and therapeutic efficacy studies is desirable. This study characterized the pathology of lethal anthrax in rabbits challenged by subcutaneous inoculation and aerosol exposure.
New Zealand white rabbits were exposed by subcutaneous inoculation or aerosol to lethal doses of Bacillus anthracis spores.
The pathology of anthrax in rabbits exposed by either route was similar, with principal findings occurring in the spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and adrenal glands. The cardinal changes were hemorrhage, edema, and necrosis, with bacilli and limited leukocytic infiltration. Features that depended on the route of exposure included mediastinitis in aerosol-exposed rabbits, a primary dermal lesion after subcutaneous inoculation, and differences in the pattern of lymph node involvement. Lesions observed in rabbits were comparable to those of inhalational anthrax in humans and rhesus monkeys. Noteworthy differences included the lack of leukocytic infiltration in brain and meningeal lesions, the relatively mild mediastinal lesions, and a lower incidence of anthrax-related pneumonia in rabbits compared with humans. These differences may be attributed to the greater susceptibility of rabbits to anthrax. Increased susceptibility is associated with both reduced leukocytic response to the bacilli and a more rapid progression to death, which further limits development of leukocytic infiltrates in response to the basic lesions of hemorrhage and necrosis. Primary pneumonic foci of inhalational anthrax, which may be influenced by preexisting pulmonary lesions in humans, were not observed in our rabbits, which were free of preexisting pulmonary disease.
Anthrax in rabbits may provide a useful model for evaluating prophylaxis and therapy against inhalational anthrax in humans.
尽管恒河猴被认为是人类吸入性炭疽的合适模型，但仍需要一种可替代的模型用于疫苗和治疗效果研究。本研究对经皮下接种和气溶胶暴露攻击的兔致死性炭疽的病理学特征进行了描述。
将新西兰白兔通过皮下接种或气溶胶暴露于致死剂量的炭疽芽孢杆菌孢子。
两种途径暴露的兔炭疽病理学表现相似，主要病变见于脾脏、淋巴结、肺、胃肠道和肾上腺。主要变化为出血、水肿和坏死，伴有杆菌和有限的白细胞浸润。取决于暴露途径的特征包括气溶胶暴露兔的纵隔炎、皮下接种后的原发性皮肤病变以及淋巴结受累模式的差异。兔中观察到的病变与人类和恒河猴吸入性炭疽的病变相似。值得注意的差异包括脑和脑膜病变中缺乏白细胞浸润、相对较轻的纵隔病变，以及与人类相比兔中炭疽相关肺炎的发生率较低。这些差异可能归因于兔对炭疽的易感性更高。易感性增加与对杆菌的白细胞反应降低以及更快的死亡进展相关，这进一步限制了对出血和坏死基本病变的白细胞浸润的发展。在我们没有既往肺部疾病的兔中未观察到可能受人类既往肺部病变影响的吸入性炭疽原发性肺炎病灶。
兔炭疽可能为评估人类吸入性炭疽的预防和治疗提供一个有用的模型。
