Establishment of rabbit fungal (aspergillus) keratitis model and corneal examination with confocal microscope

    DU Rui1, WU Jie1, MA Jiª²Xian2, ZHU Xiuª²Ping1, LIU Xianª²Ning1, YIN Lin1, CHENG Yan1

    1Shannxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi¬ðan Hospital of Ophthalmology, Xi¬ðan 710002, China, 2Depterment of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ 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 ¡°#¡±ª²shaped nick on its endothelium, was sewed onto acceptor cornea with 10ª²0 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, fewª²branches and dense lightª²reflecting 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. ......