Experimental Tuberculosis in the Wistar Rat: A Model for Protective Immunity and Control of Infection

摘要: Background Despite the availability of many animal models for tuberculosis (TB) research, there still exists a need better understanding quiescent stage disease observed in humans. Here, we explored use Wistar rat model study protective immunity and control Mycobacterium (Mtb) infection. Methodology/Principal Findings The kinetics bacillary growth, evaluated by colony stimulating assay (CFU) extent lung pathology Mtb infected rats were dependent on virulence strains size infecting inoculums. Bacillary growth was associated with induction T helper type 1 (Th1) activation, magnitude which also strain dose dependent. Histopathology analysis lungs demonstrated formation well organized granulomas comprising epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells foamy macrophages surrounded large numbers lymphocytes. The late subclinical form reactivated immunosuppression leading to increased CFU. Conclusion is valuable host-pathogen interactions that result infection potentially establishment latent TB. These properties together ease manipulation, relatively low cost established toxicology pharmacokinetic analyses make good TB drug discovery.