99mTc-Ciprofloxacin Imaging: Still an Unsettled Issue?

Authors

  • Mariano G. Portillo Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Cátedra de Física, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires
  • Andrea Mendoza Bertelli Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
  • Fiorella C. Tesán Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Cátedra de Física, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires
  • Mariángeles Noto Llana Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
  • Marcela B. Zubillaga Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Cátedra de Física, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires
  • Daniel O. Sordelli Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
  • Marisa I. Gómez Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
  • María J. Salgueiro Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Cátedra de Física, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires

Keywords:

Infection, Inflammation, Osteomyelitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Small animal imaging.

Abstract

The objective of this work consisted in the assessment of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin imaging performance as a diagnostic tool in an experimental rat model of osteomyelitis. Bone (tibia) infection was induced in adult rats by inoculation of a suspension containing S. aureus suspended in fibrin glue. In vivo studies by means of small animal imaging were conducted using a gamma camera. The study shows the correlation between 99mTc-ciprofloxacin positive images with bacterial bone count but also with histopathological findings in an osteomyelitis animal model, highlighting its potential as a tool in preclinical research and the accomplishment of 3Rs concept regarding welfare of laboratory animals. 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, failed to show these correlations and therefore it may be proposed as a complementary method to diagnose and follow up the bone physiopathology in this animal model. Future perspectives of small animal imaging in order to potentiate osteomyelitis basic research will derive from numerous research works, and 99mTc-ciprofloxacin may still be a candidate for infectious diagnose and follow-up as demonstrated in this study.

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Published

2016-03-17

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Articles