Respiratory chlamydial infection based on experimental aerosol challenge of pigs with Chlamydia suis

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2004 Jan;27(1):7-23. doi: 10.1016/S0147-9571(02)00079-6.

Abstract

An experimental study of aerogeneous challenge in pigs was conducted in order to reveal characteristic features of porcine respiratory chlamydiosis. Eight conventionally raised pigs were exposed to a pathogenic strain of Chlamydia (C.) suis, four controls were mock infected. Besides pathological changes, the acute-phase and humoral immune responses, as well as the dissemination and transmission of the challenge strain was monitored in the course of infection. The data from clinical investigations, LPS-binding protein assay, antibody ELISAs, confocal laser scanning and light microscopy, immunohistochemical staining and PCR provided extensive evidence of the pathogenic potential of C. suis for the porcine respiratory system. This model appears suitable for further pathophysiological and immunological investigations of chlamydial respiratory infections and can also be recommended for studies of Chlamydia-associated infections of the human lung.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Body Temperature
  • Carrier Proteins / blood
  • Chaperonin 60 / blood
  • Chlamydia / genetics
  • Chlamydia / growth & development*
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / pathology
  • Chlamydia Infections / veterinary*
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Female
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / veterinary
  • Palatine Tonsil / immunology
  • Palatine Tonsil / microbiology
  • Palatine Tonsil / pathology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / immunology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / pathology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary*
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / immunology
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology*
  • Swine Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Chaperonin 60
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • lipopolysaccharide-binding protein