Rabbit animal model of fungal keratitis and corneal confocal microscopy.doc

 PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 14 Rabbit animal model of fungal keratitis and corneal confocal microscopy Author: Du Rui, Wu Jie, Ji-Xian, Zhu Xiuping, Liuxian Ning, Lin Yin, Yan Cheng [Keywords:] fungal keratitis; Aspergillus; rabbit; animal model; corneal confocal microscopy Establishment of rabbit fungal (aspergillus) keratitis model and corneal examination with confocal microscope [Abstract] AIM: To establish a rabbit model of fungal (aspergillus) keratitis and evaluate the role of confocal microscopy in early diagnosis. METHODS: Cornea slice, with a ‘#’ shaped nick on its endothelium, was sewed onto acceptor cornea with 100 nylon thread. Aspergillus suspensions was injected into the space between cornea slice and acceptor cornea. Slit lamp microscopy, cornea scraping, confocal microscope, pathological section examination and culture were used at day 3, 7, 10 and 15 after aspergillus was inoculated. RESULTS: A rabbit model of fungal keratitis was built successfully and proved by cornea scraping, confocal microscopy, pathological section examination and culture. In the early period (3 d after aspergillus injection), the straight, short, fewbranches and dense lightreflecting hypha, spore, and a little inflammatory infiltration were found by confocal microscopy. In the metaphase (7, 10 d after aspergillus injection), a lot of hypha and inflammatory infiltration were discovered by confocal microscopy. In the anaphase (15 d after aspergillus injection), a little hypha was found by confocal microscopy while it could not be found by cornea scraping and pathological section examination. CONCLUSION: A rabbit model of fungal keratitis was established successfully. Confocal microscopy provides an important basis for early diagnosis of fungal keratitis. [Keywords] fungal keratitis; aspergillus; rabbits; animal model; confocal microscope [Abstract] Objective: To establish a colored rabbit animal model of fungal keratitis, corneal confocal microscopy in early diagnosis. Meth