Studies on the pathogenicity of anaerobes, especially Prevotella bivia, in a rat pyometra model.
OBJECTIVE
Prevotella bivia is one of the anaerobic bacteria that resides in the flora of the female genital tract. We studied the pathogenicity of P. bivia in a rat pyometra model.


METHODS
The experimental animal (rat) model of pyometra was developed to investigate the pathogenicity of P. bivia in a rat pyometra model.


RESULTS
In the groups inoculated with aerobes alone, the infection rate was 10% (1/10) in the Staphylococcus aureus- or Staphylococcus agalactiae-inoculated group and 20% (2/10) in the Escherichia coli-inoculated group. Infection was not established in the groups inoculated with anaerobes alone. High infection rates were observed in all the mixed-infection groups. In the S. agalactiae- and Bacteroides fragilis-, S. agalactiae- and P. bivia-, F. coli- and B. fragilis-, and E. coli- and P. bivia-inoculated groups, an infection rate of 100% (10/10) was demonstrated. The efficacy of antibiotics such as flomoxef (FMOX) could be determined using a rat pyometra model. In relation to the alteration of vaginal microbial flora during the menstrual cycle, estrogen increased the growth of P. bivia.


CONCLUSIONS
Mixture of aerobic bacteria and P. bivia increased the pathogenicity of P. bivia. Estrogen would be useful for raising up the inflammatory change of the uterus in experimental models of genital tract infection due to P. bivia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Gifu University, Japan.
H
H
Mikamo
K
K
Kawazoe
K
K
Izumi
K
K
Watanabe
K
K
Ueno
T
T
Tamaya
D000818:Animals; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018720:Prevotella / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013492:Suppuration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
D002511:Cephalosporins; D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone; C045693:flomoxef