Experimental Otitis Media with Moraxella (Branhamella) Catarrhalis

• Published in: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 234 - 241
• Main Authors: Fulghum, Robert S., Marrow, Henry G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.1996; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Animals; Chinchilla; Ear, Middle - microbiology; Ear, Middle - pathology; Gerbillinae; Granulation Tissue - microbiology; Granulation Tissue - pathology; Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis - pathogenicity; Otitis Media - etiology; Otitis Media - microbiology; Otitis Media - pathology; Moraxella catarrhalis, otitis media; Mongolian gerbil; animal model; Branhamella catarrhalis, chinchilla
• ISSN: 0003-4894; 1943-572X
• DOI: 10.1177/000348949610500311

Two hundred fifty gerbils and 7 chinchillas were utilized in 11 experiments to determine the effect of inoculating viable and heat-killed suspensions of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis into the middle ear cavity. Development of otitis media was observed by otoscopy and histopathology. Gerbils were found to be susceptible to 2 × 104 viable M catarrhalis cells. Depending on the number of cells inoculated, the resulting untreated inflammation was a very mild to moderately severe, self-limiting disease with no permanent sequelae except in animals inoculated with high (106 to 107) numbers of bacteria. Viable bacteria could not be isolated from the middle ears 24 hours after inflammation was induced. Heat-killed cells produced less severe acute inflammation with no permanent sequelae. We conclude 1) gerbils and chinchillas are susceptible to a self-limited inflammation caused by M catarrhalis, 2) no infection occurs, since viable bacteria cannot be recovered from middle ear aspirates, and 3) viable cells produce more severe inflammation than heat-killed cells.