Sheep as a Potential Model of Intradiscal Infection by the Bacterium .

The anaerobic bacterium has been increasingly linked to the development of degenerative disc disease (DDD), although causality is yet to be conclusively proven. To better study how this organism could contribute to the aetiology of DDD, improved animal models that are more reflective of human disc anatomy, biology and mechanical properties are required. Against this background, our proof-of concept study aimed to be the first demonstration that could be safely administered percutaneously into sheep intervertebral discs (IVDs) for in vivo study.