Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education

Sedef Selviler Sizer; Semih Kurt; Şeyda Yaman; Zeynep Semerci; Fatmanur Sıla Keskin; Burcu Onuk; Murat Kabak

doi:10.33988/auvfd.1723569

Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education

Abstract

In veterinary anatomy education, real bones used for instructional purposes often develop problems over time, including wear, odor, and mold. In recent years, educational materials have been produced using 3D printing technologies with different filaments such as PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU. No information in the literature addresses the hygiene-related advantages or disadvantages of real bone compared with produced prints in the laboratory. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the health suitability of 3D bone models produced using standard PLA and antibacterial PLA, and of educational models consisting of real bone. In this study, a total of 15 models (five of each) were examined and sterilized using formaldehyde fumigation. All models were used in the student laboratory for three months. At the end of this period, subsamples were taken from each sample to determine aerobic mesophilic bacterial loads. Among the real bones, the highest bacterial loads were found in the axis and the cranium. Bacterial loads were similar in the scapula, humerus, and femur and in models of these bones fabricated from standard PLA. No bacteria were isolated from any of the antibacterial PLA models. As a result, it was observed that antibacterial PLA was the most hygienic model under laboratory conditions, that sterilization by formaldehyde fumigation effectively eliminated bacteria, and that it did not cause any visible deformation or discoloration of the filaments.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sedef Selviler Sizer
0000-0002-1990-4507
Türkiye

Semih Kurt ^*
0000-0002-5160-7772
Türkiye

Şeyda Yaman
0000-0003-2175-6109
Türkiye

Zeynep Semerci
0000-0001-6570-2693
Türkiye

Fatmanur Sıla Keskin
0009-0004-6139-299X
Türkiye

Burcu Onuk
0000-0001-8617-3188
Türkiye

Murat Kabak
0000-0003-4255-1372
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

February 16, 2026

Publication Date

February 16, 2026

Submission Date

June 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 6, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 73 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1723569

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA38DH87FM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Selviler Sizer, S., Kurt, S., Yaman, Ş., Semerci, Z., Keskin, F. S., Onuk, B., & Kabak, M. (2026). Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 73(2), 195-201. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1723569

AMA

1.Selviler Sizer S, Kurt S, Yaman Ş, et al. Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73(2):195-201. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1723569

Chicago

Selviler Sizer, Sedef, Semih Kurt, Şeyda Yaman, et al. 2026. “Determination of Bacterial Load on Real Bone and 3D Printing Bone Models Used in Veterinary Anatomy Education”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 (2): 195-201. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1723569.

EndNote

Selviler Sizer S, Kurt S, Yaman Ş, Semerci Z, Keskin FS, Onuk B, Kabak M (April 1, 2026) Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73 2 195–201.

IEEE

[1]S. Selviler Sizer et al., “Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education”, Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 195–201, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.33988/auvfd.1723569.

ISNAD

Selviler Sizer, Sedef - Kurt, Semih - Yaman, Şeyda - Semerci, Zeynep - Keskin, Fatmanur Sıla - Onuk, Burcu - Kabak, Murat. “Determination of Bacterial Load on Real Bone and 3D Printing Bone Models Used in Veterinary Anatomy Education”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 73/2 (April 1, 2026): 195-201. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1723569.

JAMA

1.Selviler Sizer S, Kurt S, Yaman Ş, Semerci Z, Keskin FS, Onuk B, Kabak M. Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;73:195–201.

MLA

Selviler Sizer, Sedef, et al. “Determination of Bacterial Load on Real Bone and 3D Printing Bone Models Used in Veterinary Anatomy Education”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 73, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 195-01, doi:10.33988/auvfd.1723569.

Vancouver

1.Sedef Selviler Sizer, Semih Kurt, Şeyda Yaman, Zeynep Semerci, Fatmanur Sıla Keskin, Burcu Onuk, Murat Kabak. Determination of bacterial load on real bone and 3D printing bone models used in veterinary anatomy education. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026 Apr. 1;73(2):195-201. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1723569