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The genus Borrelia is represented by spirochetes that, once entered the human or animal body, can migrate to different organs, including the central nervous system. The aim of the study was to develop a murine neuroborreliosis model by inoculating a strain of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). 2 studies were conducted using BALB/c and CD1 mice strains, female, 8 weeks old, 22 grams at baseline. The selected animals were inoculated with Bb (106 spirochetes/mL), depending on the protocol, intradermally (100µL/animal) or intracerebrally (10µL/animal). For the evaluation of the neuroborreliosis development, endpoints were established at 1, 3, 6, 8 and 13 weeks post-infection, when samples of dura mater, brain, ear, heart, knee joint and bladder were collected, and maintained in culture medium specific for the growth of Borrelia. Recovery of Bb was possible from samples harvested 7 days post-infection from animals inoculated both intradermally and intracerebrally. Through the experiments we have developed a model of neuroborreliosis in two mice strains that can be useful for the study of the development of new therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is the pathogen carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx but which under certain conditions can produce meningitis or even multi-organ failure. Experimental induction of meningitis in an animal model is necessary for testing new nanopharmaceutical products. Thus, the aim of the study was to establish the concentration of Nm capable of inducing the disease. We carried out 2 studies where we tested different concentrations of Nm obtained by the nephelometric and spectrophotometric methods. In the first study we included 20 BALB/c mice, and in the second 24. Local and general clinical signs, complete with body temperature values, body weight, hematological, microbiological and histopathological examination were important indicators for the assessment of the establishment of meningitis. The clinical results have pronounced depression in the first 2 days after inoculation, then the general condition will appear. The microbiological and histopathological examination indicated the presence of bacteria at the brain level and specific meningeal lesions only in the case of the second attempt, but the early mortality, requires additional testing of the bacterial concentration that induces meningites in a stable and persistent way so that treatment against the condition can be tested later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]