Use of leukocytes as treatment for endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus.
This study compared four treatments for bacterial endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Twenty-five mares were used, 20 resistant and five susceptible to endometritis. Mares would be in estrus when infected. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, clinical, bacteriological and cytological examinations were performed and repeated until the first occurrence: negative cytology and no Streptococcus growth or the seventh day post-infection. All mares showed clinical signs of endometritis and were assigned to one of the following treatments: (1) intrauterine infusion of fresh leukocytes; (2) intrauterine infusion of frozen-thawed leukocytes; (3) intrauterine infusion of lysed leukocytes; (4) intrauterine infusion of recombinant human interleukin-8 (rhIL-8); (5) control. Mares were submitted to all treatments, with at least a 14-day interval between treatments in a Latin square design. Treatment did not affect (P=0.121) time needed for resistant mares to eliminate bacteria. Time needed for elimination of bacteria was similar in susceptible mares treated with fresh and frozen leukocytes (P=0.333). Susceptible mares treated with frozen leukocytes also did not differ from those treated with lysed leukocytes (P=0.227) for time to eliminate bacteria, but were significantly different (P>0.02) from those treated with rhIL-8 and control. In resistant mares, physical clearance ability was probably the responsible for bacterial elimination. Intrauterine infusions in susceptible mares with viable or lysed leukocytes associated or not to opsonizing factors, reduced the time to elimination of bacteria. Infusions with bactericidal effect (functional neutrophils and granules) was likely effective and responsible for the more rapid elimination of bacteria in susceptible mares.
REPROLAB, Departamento de Medicina Animal, FAVET, UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Adriana Pires
AP
Neves
Andrea
A
Keller
Cristina Rodrigues
CR
Trein
Gabriella
G
Möller
Maria Inês Mascarenhas
MI
Jobim
Luis Fernando Fiori
LF
Castilho
Marisa Ribeiro de Itapema
MR
Cardoso
Wolfgang
W
Leibold
Holm
H
Zerbe
Erich
E
Klug
Ricardo Macedo
RM
Gregory
Rodrigo Costa
RC
Mattos
D000818:Animals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D004716:Endometritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi
D016209:Interleukin-8