title: Animal models for studying female genital tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.
abstract: Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. It is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world, with more than 100 million new cases of genital tract infections with C. trachomatis occurring each year. Animal models are indispensable for the study of C. trachomatis infections and the development and evaluation of candidate vaccines. In this paper, the most commonly used animal models to study female genital tract infections with C. trachomatis will be reviewed, namely, the mouse, guinea pig, and nonhuman primate models. Additionally, we will focus on the more recently developed pig model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalmar
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanrompay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology