Specific-pathogen-free pigs as an animal model for studying Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection.
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.
Vanrompay
Daisy
D
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Daisy.Vanrompay@ugent.be
Hoang
Thi Q T
TQ
De Vos
Liselotte
L
Verminnen
Kristel
K
Harkinezhad
Taher
T
Chiers
Koen
K
Morré
Servaas A
SA
Cox
Eric
E
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*
D007136:Immunoglobulins