Murine Models of Vaginal Trichomonad Infections

Abstract

Abstract. Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus cause common sexually transmitted infections in humans and cattle, respectively. Mouse models of trichomoniasis are important for pathogenic and therapeutic studies. Here, we compared murine genital infections with T. vaginalis and T. foetus . Persistent vaginal infection with T. foetus was established with 100 parasites but T. vaginalis infection required doses of 10 6 , perhaps because of greater susceptibility to killing by mouse vaginal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Infection with T. vaginalis persisted longest after combined treatment of mice with estrogen and dexamethasone, whereas infection was only short-lived when mice were given estrogen or dexamethasone alone, co-infected with Lactobacillus acidophilus , and/or pretreated with antibiotics. Infection rates were similar with metronidazole-resistant (MR) and metronidazole-sensitive (MS) T. vaginalis. High dose but not low dose metronidazole treatment controlled infection with MS better than MR T. vaginalis. These murine models will be valuable for investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of trichomoniasis.

Auranofin inactivates Trichomonas vaginalis thioredoxin reductase and is effective against trichomonads in vitro and in vivo

“…Next, to evaluate whether auranofin is efficacious against trichomonads in vivo, we utilised a murine model of vaginal infection with T. foetus [17]. Following intravaginal inoculation of T. foetus D1 into young adult C57BL/6 mice, the mice remained colonised for ≥8 days (Fig.…”

“…Trichomonas vaginalis strains G3, F1623 and S1469 [16] [or kindly provided by Dr Evan Secor, US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA] and Tritrichomonas foetus strains T-21, D1, C1 and C3 [17,18] were grown at 37 °C in TYM Diamond’s medium supplemented with 180 µM ferrous ammonium sulphate [19]. Drug susceptibility assays were performed as described previously [16].…”

“…Young adult (4–6-week-old) female C57BL/6 mice were infected with a single vaginal inoculum of 10 6 T. foetus D1 trophozoites as described previously [17]. Mice were not pre-treated for these studies with immunosuppressant drugs or oestrogen and were not vaginally pre-colonised with conditioning bacteria such as lactobacilli.…”

“…For drug treatment studies, groups of six to seven mice were given daily auranofin (5 mg/kg) or solvent control by oral gavage for 4 days beginning 2 days after infection. On Day 6, live trophozoites were enumerated in vaginal washes [17]. …”

Kinetics of Serum and Local Leukotriene B<sub>4</sub> Response in Experimental Intravaginal Trichomoniasis by <i>T. vaginalis</i> Isolates from Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Women

“…However, they show contrasting data. The murine models had been proven to be valuable for investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of trichomoniasis [30] and can be applied for characterization of this variability [31].…”