title: A novel guinea pig model of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection.
abstract: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections often result in pelvic inflammatory disease and sequelae including infertility and ectopic pregnancies. In addition to the already established murine models, the development of other animal models is necessary to study the safety and efficacy of prototype vaccine candidates. The intravaginal infection of guinea pigs with C. trachomatis has been tested in three independent studies. The first two studies investigated the effect of hormonal treatment of the animals prior to infection with serovars D and E. The results showed that estradiol treatment was required for sustained infection. The third study conducted an immunization-challenge experiment to explore the feasibility of measuring protection in this guinea pig model. C. trachomatis bacteria were sampled using vaginal swabs and measured by qPCR. Using immunohistochemistry the bacteria were detected in the oviducts 19 days post-infection, indicating that the estradiol treatment resulted in ascending infection. Furthermore, immunization of guinea pigs with live EB formulated with ISCOM matrix led to reduction of cervico-vaginal shedding and diminished the severity of pathology. In this study we have developed a new guinea pig model of C. trachomatis female genital tract infection for the purpose of evaluating potential vaccine candidates.
authors: Nobilon MSD, Department of Bacteriological R&D, P.O. Box 320, 5830 AH Boxmeer, The Netherlands. m.dejonge@cukz.umcn.nl
authors: Marien I
authors: MI
authors: de Jonge
authors: Sander A S
authors: SA
authors: Keizer
authors: Hicham M
authors: HM
authors: El Moussaoui
authors: Lieke
authors: L
authors: van Dorsten
authors: Rima
authors: R
authors: Azzawi
authors: Hanneke I
authors: HI
authors: van Zuilekom
authors: Patricia P W
authors: PP
authors: Peters
authors: Fred J H
authors: FJ
authors: van Opzeeland
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: van Dijk
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Nieuwland
authors: Henriëtte W M
authors: HW
authors: Roosenboom-Theunissen
authors: Mieke P
authors: MP
authors: Vrijenhoek
authors: Isolde
authors: I
authors: Debyser
authors: Pierre J M
authors: PJ
authors: Verweij
authors: Wilbert G F
authors: WG
authors: van Duijnhoven
authors: Johannes F
authors: JF
authors: van den Bosch
authors: Piet J M
authors: PJ
authors: Nuijten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D010057:Oviducts / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004958:Estradiol