Klebsiella–Candida arthritis model in Wistar rats

Abstract

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 20 male Wistar rats, of which 15 were injected with a bacterialfungal suspension into the cavity of the hock (tarsus) joint. Specifically, the rats were injected with KlebsiellaCandida suspension (1:1) with a microbial concentration of 106 CFU/ml prepared by using the museum strains Klebsiella pneumoniae ICIS-278 and Candida albicans ATCC 24433 under the control of an X-ray apparatus and digitizer FireCR+. Five intact animals served as the control. On day 15 of the experiment, a bacteriological and histological examination of the affected joints was carried out while maintaining topography after euthanasia.
 RESULTS: In rats infected with the KlebsiellaCandidiasis suspension, pain syndrome and functional changes typical of arthritis were noted on days 23. The bacteriological examination of the affected joints in 75% of rats isolated K. pneumonia cultures that were identical, according to polymerase chain reaction, to the original strain that was part of the bacterialfungal suspension. At the same time, fungi of the genus Candida, which was also used in the experiment to infect animals, were not detected in the affected joints of rats. The established model of KlebsiellaCandida arthritis was characterized by the pathomorphological signs of panarthritis accompanied by the purulent inflammation of all joint structures (synovial membrane, cartilage, and bone tissue) with the involvement of soft periarticular tissues.
 CONCLUSION: The model of Klebsiella and fungal arthritis presented by this work can be used to test new means of antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) therapies, which are an integral component of the treatment of infection-associated arthritis.