Authors : Xingfang Qiao, Li Wei, Yang Yang, Jiankang Chen, Denghu Wu, Benzhong Mi, Wenhua Luo, Suhui Yin and Jinlong Yang
Abstract: Asian elephants in Chongqing zoo were repeatedly affected by fungal skin disease recent years. This study sought to establish New Zealand rabbit models infected with Microsporum canis which was pathogens of fungal skin disease developed in Asian elephants in Chongqing zoo. Bacterial colonies were incubated in Sabouraud dextrose agar at 28°C for 14 days and then prepared into bacterial suspension and inoculated on the dorsal skin of the rabbits. After 10 days inoculation, the affected skin of rabbits developed advent clinical symptoms such as scab and desquamation that were extremely similar to those of fungal skin disease in Asian elephants. The skin tissue at a size of 1×1 cm was collected. The paraffin section was prepared and stained for argentaffin. The pathological section showed that brown orange Microsporum canis was visible in skin tissue after argentaffin staining. The results showed that pathological New Zealand rabbit model for infection with pathogens of fungal skin disease developed in Asian elephants in Chongqing zoo was successfully established.
Xingfang Qiao, Li Wei, Yang Yang, Jiankang Chen, Denghu Wu, Benzhong Mi, Wenhua Luo, Suhui Yin and Jinlong Yang, 2014. The Characteristics of New Zealand Rabbit Model for Infection with Pathogens of Fungal Skin Disease in Asian Elephants in Chongqing. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 917-921.