title: Specific-pathogen-free pigs as an animal model for studying Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate pigs as a large-animal model for female genital infection with two Chlamydia trachomatis human serovar E strains. Sixteen-week-old specific-pathogen-free female pigs (gilts) were intravaginally infected with the trachoma type E reference strain Bour or the urogenital serovar E strain 468. Several conclusions can be drawn from our findings on the pathogenicity of a primary C. trachomatis genital infection in gilts. First of all, we demonstrated that the serovar E strains Bour and 468 could ascend in the genital tract of gilts. The serovar E strains could replicate in the superficial columnar cervical epithelium and in the superficial epithelial layer of the uterus, which are known to be the specific target sites for a C. trachomatis genital infection in women. Second, inflammation and pathology occurred at the replication sites. Third, the organisms could trigger a humoral immune response, as demonstrated by the presence of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, and IgA in both serum and genital secretion samples. Our findings imply that the pig model might be useful for studying the pathology, pathogenesis, and immune response to a C. trachomatis infection of the genital system.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Daisy.Vanrompay@ugent.be
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanrompay
authors.forename: Thi Q T
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verminnen
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harkinezhad
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiers
authors.forename: Servaas A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morré
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins