Bacterial Keratitis: Similar Bacterial and Clinical Outcomes in Female versus Male New Zealand White Rabbits Infected with Serratia marcescens

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Females and males respond differently to a number of systemic viral infections. Differences between females and males with respect to the severity of keratitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria such as Serratia marcescens are less well established.

Methods

In this study, we injected female and male New Zealand White rabbit corneas with a keratitis isolate of S. marcescens and evaluated the eyes after 48 hours for a number of clinical and microbiological parameters.

Results

No statistical differences in bacterial burden and corneal scores were recorded between female and male rabbits although there was a non-significant trend toward a higher frequency of female rabbits demonstrating hypopyons.

Conclusions

This data suggests that for experimental bacterial keratitis studies involving Gram-negative rods, a single sex or mixed group of rabbit is sufficient for evaluating pathology and bacterial burdens. This will reduce the number of animals used for subsequent studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Keratitis
• bacteria
• microbial keratitis
• male
• female
• Serratia marcescens

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data is available on request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the National Institute of Health grants [EY027331] to R.M.Q.S and Core Grant for Vision Research [EY08098]. Additional funds for the department were provided by the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh n/a and unrestricted funds from Research to Prevent Blindness;[Unrestricted Funds]; National Eye Institute [EY027331, EY08098].