Characterization of bacterial orofacial infections using a new murine model

We devised a new murine orofacial infection model using bacteria from odontogenic infection origins and characterized the experimental infections. In this model, bacteria were injected into the submandible of mice. Streptococcus constellatus and Peptostreptococcus micros produced a single abscess at the injection site and their abscess-forming and lethal abilities were low: the median abscess-forming dose (AF(50)) of S. constellatus and P. micros were 10(8.5-10.7) and 10(10.2-10.6) cfu/mouse, and their median lethal dose (LD50) were >11 and 10(10.6-11) cfu/mouse, respectively. Prevotella oralis and Fusobacterium nucleatum produced multiple abscesses and their abscess-forming and lethal abilities were strong: AF(50) of P. oralis and F. nucleatum were 10(6.0-6.4) and 10(7.0-8.7) cfu/mouse, and their LD50 were 10(7.0-7.7) and 10(8.3-9.9) cfu/mouse, respectively. LD50 of P. intermedia and P. gingivalis were 10(9.4->11) and 10(8.9-9.1) cfu/mouse, respectively. Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis generated a necrotizing lesion, which progressed vapidly. We conclude that this murine model could reflect human orofacial odontogenic infections and is useful to investigate the pathogenicity of causative bacteria of such infections. (C) 2000 Academic Press.