Experimental Acute Salpingitis in Grivet Monkeys Provoked by Chlamydia Trachomatis

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomalis is a common cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Recently it has been shown that chlamydiae are also responsible for complications to such lower genital tract infections. In this study, isolates of C. trachomatis from the fallopian tubes of patients with acute salpingitis were inoculated direct into the fallopian tubes of two, and through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity of one grivet monkey. The experimental infections resulted in a self‐limited acute salpingitis in the three animals. C. trachomatis was recovered from the monkeys 2 and 3 weeks post inoculation. As found at laparotomy, the infected tubes were swollen and reddened, and there was watery exudate in the abdominal ostia. Microscopically, cellular infiltrates — mainly lymphocytes — were seen in the mucosa, muscularis and subserosa of the tubes. Serologically, a primary antibody response with an IgM to IgG conversion was found. Salpingitis did not occur in a control monkey inoculated in the tubes with a medium lacking Chlamydia. The histological changes in the fallopian tubes of the infected monkeys were reminiscent of those described as being characteristic of »gonococcal« salpingitis in man. The fulfilment of Koch's postulates in the animal model used adds to the earlier evidence that C. trachomatis is capable of causing acute salpingitis in humans.

Nonhuman Primate Models Used to Study Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Caused byChlamydia trachomatis

“…By directly inoculating the fallopian tubes and the endometrial cavity, grivet monkeys developed acute self-limited salpingitis. The histological findings in the tubal tissues post-inoculation (infiltration of the subepithelial and mucosal epithelium, abundant lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, and exudate in the tubal lumen with small clusters of desquamated epithelium) mirrored what is considered to be the hallmark signs of acute salpingitis in women [ 32 ]. Moller also showed that there was an activated immune response associated with inoculation with C. trachomatis .…”

“…Moller also showed that there was an activated immune response associated with inoculation with C. trachomatis . The antibody response was that of a primary infection with an IgM to IgG antibody seroconversion [ 32 ]. Additionally, in the animal that was infected in the endometrial cavity they documented ascent of the C. trachomatis to the fallopian tubes.…”

Duration of Untreated Chlamydial Genital Infection and Factors Associated with Clearance: Review of Animal Studies

“…Nonhuman primates, including the marmoset, grivet, and pigtailed macaque, have been used as models for C. trachomatis genital tract infection for decades and would intuitively be the closest surrogate models for humans. Infection in grivet monkeys elicited acute salpingitis after inoculation into either the fallopian tube directly or the uterine cavity [67]. Studies on the mode of spread of chlamydial infection continued in the grivet model [68].…”

Immunopathogenesis of Chlamydial Infections

“…trachomatis infections, including the marmoset, grivet and baboon, and pigtailed macaque. The pigtailed macaque model was initially developed by Patton and colleagues; it has been the most frequently used primate model for genital Chlamydia research (Ripa et al 1979; Bell et al 2011; De et al 2013). C. trachomatis can naturally infect this macaque species without hormonal pretreatment, and the infected macaques develop cervicitis and salpingitis, which are highly similar to genital tract inflammation in humans.…”