A porcine model of subcutaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection: a pilot study

Ole Lerberg Nielsen, Maiken Mellergaard, Dorte Frees, Maria Nygaard Larsen, Søren Skov, Lisbeth Høier Olsen, Maria Josefine Reimann*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this descriptive pilot study, we aim to establish a porcine Staphylococcus aureus skin infection model by subcutaneous injection (s.c.) of the porcine S54F9 S. aureus strain in the groin area. Six pigs were used in the study: Five pigs were injected with S. aureus, inocula ranging from 7 × 103 to 5 × 107 colony-forming units per kg bodyweight; one pig was injected with saline exclusively. Lesions were recorded up to 6 days postinoculation using clinical evaluation, ultrasound evaluation, microbiology, flow cytometry, and pathology. Inoculation gave rise to lesions ranging from localized skin infection, that is, minute histological changes, intracellular infection, and macroscopic abscess formation with sequestration of soft tissue, to generalized infection and development of disseminated intravascular coagulation necessitating euthanasia only 10 h after inoculation. Ultrasound assessment of maximum width and characteristics was not able to disclose the progress of the local infection. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry revealed the participation of γδT cells in the immune response. In conclusion, we did see a graded inflammatory response associated with the dose of s.c. inoculated bacteria, which may be useful for studying, in particular, the interaction of bacteria and inflammatory mononuclear cell populations. It needs to be investigated if the model is discriminatory and robust.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAPMIS - Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Volume130
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)359-370
ISSN0903-4641
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • intracellular Staphylococcus aureus
  • pigs
  • Porcine infection model
  • subcutaneous abscess

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