title: The effects of a single cervical inoculation of Chlamydia trachomatis on the female reproductive tract of the baboon (Papio anubis).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis) can be transcervically instrumented, facilitating studies of intrauterine contraception and reproductive tract infection. We sought to determine if the baboon could become infected with a single cervical inoculation of Chlamydia trachomatis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten female baboons were randomized and inoculated cervically with C. trachomatis serovar E (or buffer alone). Animals underwent weekly clinical and laparoscopic evaluations for four weeks and at post-inoculation week 8, to monitor upper tract infection. Cervical culture and nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) were completed weekly throughout the study. Animals were euthanized at week 16 and the reproductive tracts were examined histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All inoculated animals developed cervical infection. The average duration of positive NAAT results was 6.8 weeks (range 2-16). Two of eight (25%) animals tested positive from fallopian tube samples. Infected animals showed histological findings consistent with chlamydial infection, such as germinal centers. Five of ten animals seroconverted to C. trachomatis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baboons cervically inoculated once with C. trachomatis develop infection similar to humans, with a low incidence of upper tract infection. This novel model of Chlamydia infection closely resembles human disease and opens new avenues for studying the pathogenesis of sexually transmitted infections and contraceptive safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. jasonbel@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Ingrid L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mullei
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mwenda
authors.forename: Vanessa K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Anjel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vahratian
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lebar
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Zochowski
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiulia
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aronoff
authors.forename: Dorothy L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D048530:Papio anubis; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology