title: Ureaplasma parvum or Mycoplasma hominis as sole pathogens cause chorioamnionitis, preterm delivery, and fetal pneumonia in rhesus macaques.
abstract: The authors assess causal, cellular and inflammatory links between intraamniotic infection with Ureaplasma parvum or Mycoplasma hominis and preterm labor in a nonhuman primate model. Long-term catheterized rhesus monkeys received intraamniotic inoculations of clinical isolates of Ureaplasma parvum serovar 1, M hominis, media control or physiological saline. Genital mycoplasmas were quantified in amniotic fluid (AF) and documented in fetal tissues by culture and PCR. In association with elevated AF colony counts for U parvum or M hominis, there was a sequential upregulation of AF leukocytes, proinflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E2 and F2a, metalloproteinase-9 and uterine activity ( P< .05). Fetal membranes and lung were uniformly positive for both microorganisms; fetal blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures and PCR were more often positive for M hominis than U parvum. Histopathologic findings of chorioamnionitis, a systemic fetal inflammatory response and pneumonitis worsen with duration of in utero infection. U parvum or M hominis, as sole pathogens, elicit a robust proinflammatory response which contributes to preterm labor and fetal lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Reproductive Sciences Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA. novym@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Miles J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Novy
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Axthelm
authors.forename: Drew W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sadowsky
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gravett
authors.forename: Gail H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Cassell
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Waites
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000254:growth & development*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000382:microbiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000254:growth & development*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*