8. Transfer the animal to the BSC. Place on a sterile drape in a
supine position.
9. Prior to beginning the procedure, perform a “toe pinch” to
ensure that the animal is properly anesthetized.
10. Use a chlorhexidine/isopropanol swab stick to aseptically clean
the surgical site (Fig. 3a) (see Note 13).
11. Before proceeding, put on the pair of sterile surgical gloves (see
Note 14).
12. Place a sterile scalpel blade in the scalpel blade holder (see Note
6). Carefully make a 4–5 cm incision through the skin only
(Fig. 3b), starting ~2.5 cm below the ribcage, using the
xiphoid process as a guide.
13. Using tissue forceps, pull up the skin on either side of the
incision and gently trim the fascia connecting the skin to the
abdominal wall using the same scalpel (Fig. 3c).
14. Repeat on the other side.
Fig. 3 Implantation procedure. After shaving, the surgical site is wiped using a chlorhexidine/isopropanol swab
stick (a), and a small incision (~4–5 cm) is made in the skin using a scalpel blade (b). The fascia on either side
is gently trimmed using the tip of the scalpel blade to release the muscle from the skin (c). A small opening in
the abdominal muscle along the linea alba is first made using a scalpel and then extended using scissors (d). A
DMC is inserted in the peritoneal cavity (e). The abdominal muscle is sutured, being careful to avoiding the
DMC and internal organs (f and g). The edges of the skin incision site are gathered and held together using
forceps (h) and then closed using wound clips (i)
Cultivation of Leptospira interrogans within DMCs
237
supine position.
9. Prior to beginning the procedure, perform a “toe pinch” to
ensure that the animal is properly anesthetized.
10. Use a chlorhexidine/isopropanol swab stick to aseptically clean
the surgical site (Fig. 3a) (see Note 13).
11. Before proceeding, put on the pair of sterile surgical gloves (see
Note 14).
12. Place a sterile scalpel blade in the scalpel blade holder (see Note
6). Carefully make a 4–5 cm incision through the skin only
(Fig. 3b), starting ~2.5 cm below the ribcage, using the
xiphoid process as a guide.
13. Using tissue forceps, pull up the skin on either side of the
incision and gently trim the fascia connecting the skin to the
abdominal wall using the same scalpel (Fig. 3c).
14. Repeat on the other side.
Fig. 3 Implantation procedure. After shaving, the surgical site is wiped using a chlorhexidine/isopropanol swab
stick (a), and a small incision (~4–5 cm) is made in the skin using a scalpel blade (b). The fascia on either side
is gently trimmed using the tip of the scalpel blade to release the muscle from the skin (c). A small opening in
the abdominal muscle along the linea alba is first made using a scalpel and then extended using scissors (d). A
DMC is inserted in the peritoneal cavity (e). The abdominal muscle is sutured, being careful to avoiding the
DMC and internal organs (f and g). The edges of the skin incision site are gathered and held together using
forceps (h) and then closed using wound clips (i)
Cultivation of Leptospira interrogans within DMCs
237