Bacteriologic and serologic findings in experimental pyelonephritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum.
A challenge procedure based on reflux of Ureaplasma urealyticum to the rat kidney was used to examine the disease-causing potential of this species for the upper urinary tract. Renal infection was detected 8 days after challenge in 90 to 100% of animals exposed to 10(7) ureaplasmas but was not detected in animals exposed to fewer than 10(6) microorganisms. Viable microorganisms were recoverable from more than 60% of infected animals throughout a 24-week follow-up period of study. Animals with persistent infection exhibited a humoral response involving immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibody. These results show that U. urealyticum is capable of giving rise to chronic infection in the kidneys of rats following challenge via the ascending route.
Pickering
W J
WJ
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Birch
D F
DF
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012703:Serotyping; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial