Generating Rabbit Model of Bone Infection: A Technique of Inducing Chronic Infection by Injecting Bacteria Directly in Bone Marrow

Abstract

Source: Zhang, Y et al., Treatment with Vancomycin Loaded Calcium Sulphate and Autogenous Bone in an Improved Rabbit Model of Bone Infection. J. Vis. Exp. (2019).

This video describes the technique of surgically inducing bacterial infection in the bone marrow of a rabbit by using bone wax to avoid the leakage of bacteria. This rabbit model can be used to study bone infection treatment and bone regeneration.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board. 1. Preparation of Bone Infection Models Keep male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 3 months, in individual cages, under air-controlled conditions (20 ± 1 °C) and 12 h/12 h light-dark illumination cycles. Offer routine diet and tap water daily. Ensure that at the time of surgery that the rabbit weighs mor…

Representative Results

Figure 1. Surgical preparation of the bone infection model. (A) Shows the punching position on the tibia. The distance between the drilling hole position for injection with S. aureus to the upper end of tibia is 1.5 cm. (B) Incision made in the skin to expose the periosteum. (C) Shows incision made through the periosteum t…

Materials

absorbable surgical suture	Jinghuan	18S0604A
asepsis injector	Jinglong	20170501
bone wax	ETHICON	JH5CQLM
Electric bone drill unit	Bao Kang	BKZ-1
Electric shaver	Codos	3800
New Zealand white rabbits	Zhejiang Experimental Animal Center	SCXK 2014-0047
No. 11 scalpel	Yuanlikang	20170604
pentobarbital sodium	Merk	2070124
S. aureus freeze drying powder	China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center	ATCC 6538