OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop a model of chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with Gardnerella vaginalis. STUDY DESIGN: The uterine horns of pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were inoculated on day 21 of gestation with either 10(7) colony-forming units (cfu) of G vaginalis or saline solution. At necropsy, cultures were taken from blood, uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal tissues. Amniotic fluid was assayed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by bioassay. Maternal and fetal tissue samples were evaluated using the histologic index score. A P value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with saline solution-inoculated animals, the G vaginalis group had significantly more positive cultures from uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal brain and lung (P =.02 to <.01). For the G vaginalis group, mean TNF-alpha levels and fetal brain scores increased significantly over time (P <.001 for both). CONCLUSION: Chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with G vaginalis is accompanied by progressive increases in amniotic fluid TNF-alpha concentrations and fetal brain histologic index scores.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop a model of chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with Gardnerella vaginalis. STUDY DESIGN: The uterine horns of pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were inoculated on day 21 of gestation with either 10(7) colony-forming units (cfu) of G vaginalis or saline solution. At necropsy, cultures were taken from blood, uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal tissues. Amniotic fluid was assayed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by bioassay. Maternal and fetal tissue samples were evaluated using the histologic index score. A P value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with saline solution-inoculated animals, the G vaginalis group had significantly more positive cultures from uterus, amniotic fluid, and fetal brain and lung (P =.02 to <.01). For the G vaginalis group, mean TNF-alpha levels and fetal brain scores increased significantly over time (P <.001 for both). CONCLUSION:Chronic intrauterine and fetal infection with G vaginalis is accompanied by progressive increases in amniotic fluid TNF-alpha concentrations and fetal brain histologic index scores.
Authors: Nicole M Gilbert; Warren G Lewis; Guocai Li; Dorothy K Sojka; Jean Bernard Lubin; Amanda L Lewis Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Melissa M Herbst-Kralovetz; Richard B Pyles; Adam J Ratner; Laura K Sycuro; Caroline Mitchell Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2016-08-15 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Alan Leviton; Elizabeth N Allred; Karl C K Kuban; T Michael O'Shea; Nigel Paneth; Andrew B Onderdonk; Raina N Fichorova; Olaf Dammann Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2015-12-13 Impact factor: 4.897