Modelling of Intestinal Tuberculosis in Rabbits using Morphological Control

Objective: to develop a reproducible model of tuberculous enterocolitis in laboratory animals comparable in its pathomorphological characteristics to intestinal tuberculosis in humans.

Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted on 10 male Soviet Chinchilla rabbits. One day before infection, the animals were administered infliximab (16 mg/kg) intravenously to simulate immunosuppression. Laparotomy was performed under general anesthesia, followed by the introduction of a suspension of the international reference virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv strain (10⁶ CFU in 0.5 ml of normal saline) into the cranial mesenteric artery and the fiber of the mesentery of the small intestine. During the 72–90–day observation, behavioral patterns and body weight were monitored, and an intradermal test with recombinant tuberculosis allergen (RTA, Diaskintest®) was performed. At the end of the experiment, pathomorphological (hematoxylin and eosin staining and Ziehl-Neelsen staining) and molecular genetic (PCR) studies of the abdominal and thoracic organs were conducted.

Results. A positive RTA skin test on day 30 confirmed the development of a specific immune response. All infected animals (100%) exhibited specific granulomatous changes in the intestinal wall, mesentery and omentum (80%), with the formation of epithelial cellular granulomas, caseous necrosis and the presence of acid-fast mycobacteria (AFB). Specific lung lesions were detected in 90% of rabbits, 70% had enlarged intraabdominal lymph nodes, with caseous necrosis observed in 40% of the animals. PCR analysis detected MBT DNA in 80% of intestinal samples and 90% of lung samples.

Conclusion. A reproducible model of tuberculous enterocolitis was established, characterized by the development of specific granulomatous inflammation within the intestine and mesentery.

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