Experimental Genital Infection of Male Guinea Pigs with the Agent of Guinea Pig Inclusion Conjunctivitis and Transmission to Females

Abstract

Male guinea pigs were inoculated intraurethrally with the agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (Gp-ic). Cytoplasmic inclusions were found in superficial epithelial cells of the urethra in smears and stained sections. Gp-ic antigen(s) was detected by immunofluorescent staining of sections. There was no marked urethral exudate, but many animals developed bullous lesions on the glans and the body of the penis and a severe inflammatory lesion of the hind leg. All males demonstrated an antibody response and most of them showed a positive skin test reaction. Venereal transmission to females of Gp-ic infection was shown to occur as determined by detection of inclusions in vaginal smears, antibody response, and positive skin tests.

Humoral immunity in the resolution of genital infection in female guinea pigs infected with the agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis

“…Delayed-type hypersensitivity to GPIC antigen. GPIC antigen was prepared by heat inactivation (100°C, 30 min) of a suspension of GPIC grown in BGM cells (13). Control antigen consisted of heatinactivated BGM cells alone.…”

“…Female guinea pigs infected in the genital tract with the chlamydial agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis were selectively immunosuppressed by varying regimens of cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment. Temporary suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity by daily treatment of Cy (25 mg/kg) for 13 days resulted in a prolonged infection, whereas daily treatment for the duration of the experiment totally prevented the development of humoral and cell-mediated responses and produced an intense and prolonged infection which did not resolve. When humoral immunity alone was suppressed by treatment with Cy (250 and 150 mg/kg) at 9-day intervals, the infection again did not resolve.…”

“…Antibodies to GPIC in both serum and vaginal secretions are first detectable about 14 days after infection (6). In addition, intradermal skin tests with GPIC antigen resulting in classical delayedtype hypersensitivity can be detected after genital infection with GPIC (13). Despite the detec-tion of these responses, there is little evidence concerning the actual role of humoral or cellmediated immune responses, or both, in resolving GPIC genital infections.…”

Peptide immunization of guinea pigs against Chlamydia psittaci (GPIC agent) infection induces good vaginal secretion antibody response, in vitro neutralization and partial protection against live challenge

“…The guinea pig model of genital infection with GPIC (guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis strain of Chlamydia psittaci; recently re‐named Chlamydophila caviae 5 ) was chosen because this organism naturally infects the repro‐ductive tract of guinea pigs and causes a disease that closely resembles C. trachomatis infections in humans. The similarities between the guinea pig and human chlamydial reproductive diseases include the mode of transmission, 6 vaginal target tissues, 7 histopathology, immunology and infection sequelae, including the occurrence of salpingitis and infertility 8…”

Infectious Diseases

“…Urogenital disease has been reported in natural infections with C. caviae and has been reproduced in experimental models (Lutz-Wohlgroth et al, 2006;Mount et al, 1973). In experimental infections, inoculation with C. caviae in the lower genital tract of female guinea pigs causes a self-limiting infection lasting 3-4 weeks.…”