Pathogenicity ofUreaplasma urealyticumandUreaplasma parvumin the lower genital tract of female BALB/c mice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish a murine model of lower genital tract infection by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum and evaluate differences in pathogenicity of five serotypes. BALB/c female mice were divided into seven groups (five mice in each group), including five groups infected in the lower genital tract after treatment with estradiol with U. urealyticum serotypes 4 and 8 and U. parvum serotypes 1, 3, and 6, respectively, and two control groups of untreated mice and estradiol treated mice. The presence of infection was determined on solid and liquid culture media. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression in lower genital tract secretions was determined by PCR, and morphological and histological changes of the lower genital tract were observed. The genital secretions of all inoculated mice were positive for U. urealyticum and U. parvum on culture in both liquid and solid media. TNF-α expression at 7 and 14 days after infection was markedly increased as compared with that of the controls. Morphological changes of the external genitalia included hair loss and erosions, and histological examination revealed infiltration by inflammatory cells. The five serotypes tested were all found to be pathogenic, and the pathogenicity varied with serotype 4 showing the greatest pathogenicity.

Colonization of the lower urogenital tract with Ureaplasma parvum can cause asymptomatic infection of the upper reproductive system in women: a preliminary study

“…The presence of these organisms in the sterile part of the genital tract may induce long-lasting subacute inflammation that may be the cause of the upper genital tract disorders e.g., infertility. Zhu et al [14] in the study of pathogenicity of U. parvum serotypes 1, 3, and 6, and U. urealyticum serotypes 4 and 8 for BALB/c female mice showed that all these serotypes caused morphological changes of the external genitalia associated with infiltration by inflammatory cells and increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression. Similarly, Shimizu et al [15] indicated that U. parvum lipoproteins activated nuclear factor NF-κB thus inducing the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in mouse peritoneal macrophages.…”

The Role of Ureaplasma spp. in the Development of Nongonococcal Urethritis and Infertility among Men

“…Due to the lack of availability of chimpanzee models, investigators have moved to murine models to investigate colonisation of the genital tract (28)(29)(30). Although many of these models have relied upon female mice and vaginal colonisation, due to the physiology of the male mouse urethra, an inflammatory response as characterised by increased TNF-α and PMN recruitment have been described.…”

Detection of Ureaplasma Biovars and Subtyping of Ureaplasma parvum among Women Referring to a University Hospital in Morocco

“…Several studies suggest that the pathogenicity of Ureaplasma may be serotype-dependent, and others have shown that some serotypes are more frequently associated with syndromes than others [8][9][10]. U. parvum serovar 3 is the most frequently detected in infertile women and men, and some studies have revealed that the infiltration of U. parvum serovars 1, 3, and 6 caused morphological changes of the external genitalia in female mice, which can cause disorders of the superior genital tract that can lead to infertility [11]. However, U. parvum serovar 6 is the second most prevalent (in both women and men) and is associated with premature birth [12][13][14].…”