Animal models of
aspergillosis have been used extensively to study various aspects of pathogenesis, innate and acquired host-response, disease transmission and
therapy. Several different animal models of
aspergillosis have been developed. Because
aspergillosis is an important
pulmonary disease in birds, avian models have been used successfully to study preventative
vaccines. Studies done to emulate human disease have relied on models using common laboratory animal species. Guinea pig models have primarily been used in
therapy studies of
invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Rabbits have been used to study IPA and systemic disease, as well as fungal
keratitis. Rodent, particularly mouse, models of
aspergillosis predominate as the choice for most investigators. The availability of genetically defined strains of mice, immunological
reagents, cost and ease of handling are factors. Both normal and immunosuppressed animals are used routinely. These models have been used to determine efficacy of experimental
therapeutics, comparative virulence of different isolates of Aspergillus, genes involved in virulence, and susceptibility to
infection with Aspergillus. Mice with genetic immunological deficiency and
cytokine gene-specific knockout mice facilitate studies of the roles cells, and
cytokines and
chemokines, play in host-resistance to Aspergillus. Overall, these models have been critical to the advancement of
therapy, and our current understanding of pathogenesis and host-resistance.