Experimental animal models of central nervous system tuberculosis: A historical review

• Published in: Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2018-05, Vol.110, p.1-6
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Garibay, Carlos, Hernández-Campos, María Elena, Tena-Suck, Martha Lilia, Salinas-Lara, Citlaltepetl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Autopsies; Central nervous system; Central nervous system tuberculosis; Disease control; Disease Models, Animal; Drug development; Experimental tuberculosis; Historical account; Immunopathology; Laboratory animals; Medical research; Nervous system; Parasitic diseases; Pharmacology; Research methodology; Signs and symptoms; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis Vaccines; Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System - etiology; Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System - immunology; Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System - therapy; Vaccination
• ISSN: 1472-9792; 1873-281X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2018.02.007

Animal models are and will remain valuable tools in medical research because their use enables a deeper understanding of disease development, thus generating important knowledge for developing disease control strategies. Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS TB) is the most devastating disease in humans. Moreover, as the variability of signs and symptoms delay a timely diagnosis, patients usually arrive at the hospital suffering from late stage disease. Therefore, it is impossible to obtain fresh human tissue for research before an autopsy. Because of these reasons, studies on human CNS TB are limited to case series, pharmacological response reports, and post mortem histopathological studies. Here, we review the contribution of the different animal models to understand the immunopathology of the disease and the host-parasitic relationship, as well as in the development of new strategies of vaccination and to test new drugs for the treatment of CNS TB.