Listeria monocytogenes infection in pregnant guinea pigs is associated with maternal liver necrosis, a decrease in maternal serum TNF-alpha concentrations, and an increase in placental apoptosis.
Stillbirths and spontaneous abortions can result when pregnant women are exposed to the food borne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. Fetuses and neonates account for one-third of the 2500 cases annually. The objectives were to determine the dose dependent trends of immunological and pathological effects in pregnant guinea pigs after infection with L. monocytogenes. Timed pregnant guinea pigs were treated on gestation day (gd) 35 with doses of 10(4) to 10(8) colony forming units (CFUs) and sacrificed on gd 56. Hepatic lesions were found in dams treated with >or=10(5)CFUs. Apoptosis was detected in significantly more placentas from dams treated with >or=10(6)CFUs compared to controls. Maternal serum TNF-alpha concentrations were significantly decreased in all dose groups compared to controls. In conclusion, increases in premature delivery, maternal hepatic effects and placental apoptosis along with a decrease in TNF-alpha concentrations were associated with L. monocytogenes infection in pregnant guinea pigs.
Irvin
Elizabeth Ann
EA
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30606, USA.
Williams
Denita
D
Voss
Kenneth A
KA
Smith
Mary Alice
MA
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha