[Establishment of the guinea pig model of synovial tuberculosis of knee joint by mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv infection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore how to establish the guinea pig model of synovial tuberculosis of knee joint by mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv infection.

METHODS: Two doses (1 x 10(7)/mL, 50 microL and 100 microL) of Mycobacterium strains were injected into the knee joint of the guinea pig that had been immunized and allergized with Freund's complete adjuvant six weeks previously. The pathological changes of the synovial membrane, cartilage and bone after infection of mycobacterium tuberculosis were investigated. At the same time, the synovial membrane tissues and culture for the mycobacterium tuberculosis were collected and examined.

RESULTS: After the infection of mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, the knee joint of guinea pig became swollen, but the interference to the whole conditions of the guinea pig was slight in both infection groups. The tissue sections of the synovial membrane showed tubercle and caseous necrosis of the knee joint in both groups. The mycobacterium tuberculosis could be detected by using Ziehl-neelsen stain and the culture from the synovial membrane of the knee joint.

CONCLUSION: By injecting suitable dosage of mycobacterium H37Rv strains into the joint of the immunized and allergized guinea pig, we have established the guinea pig model of synovial tuberculosis that is pathologically similar to synovial tuberculosis in humans, so it is fit for use in the diagnostic studies and pathological researches.