Abstract
We attempted to induce experimental arthritis in rats by systematically testing the effect of Yersinia infections in five strains of rats, using the intragastric, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes of inoculation. We observed that Lewis rats which were given 10(4) to 10(5) Yersinia enterocolitica WA organisms via the intravenous route consistently developed arthritis. The arthritis was most severe at 3 weeks and subsided at 6 weeks. No arthritis was observed when this bacterial strain was administered to Buffalo, Fisher, DA, and LDA rats. No replicable bacteria were detected in the joints. This aseptic characteristic parallels that seen in the human condition and establishes this as an animal model of Yersinia-induced arthritis. The probable reason for arthritis development in only the Lewis rats became apparent when we analyzed the numbers of live bacteria in the spleens and livers of these infected animals. The arthritis-susceptible Lewis rats harbored 10-fold more bacteria than the arthritis-resistant rat strains, and this systemic infection also persisted for a significantly longer period. Speculations as to why human subjects who develop Yersinia-induced arthritis are genetically predisposed have been centered principally around the role of the HLA-B27 histocompatibility antigens. The present study reveals a heretofore unrecognized critical factor: the susceptibility of the hosts to the virulence of the infectious organisms. In addition, the present animal model will provide the necessary tool for the investigation of this and other important host and bacterial factors.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ahvonen P. Human yersiniosis in Finland. I. Bacteriology and serology. Ann Clin Res. 1972 Feb;4(1):30–38. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ahvonen P., Sievers K., Aho K. Arthritis associated with Yersinia enterocolitica infection. Acta Rheumatol Scand. 1969;15(3):232–253. doi: 10.3109/rhe1.1969.15.issue-1-4.32. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carter P. B., MacDonald T. T., Collins F. M. Host responses to infection with Yersinia enterocolitica. Contrib Microbiol Immunol. 1979;5:346–350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chang Y. H., Pearson C. M., Chedid L. Adjuvant polyarthritis. V. Induction by N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, the smallest peptide subunit of bacterial peptidoglycan. J Exp Med. 1981 Apr 1;153(4):1021–1026. doi: 10.1084/jem.153.4.1021. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fox A., Brown R. R., Anderle S. K., Chetty C., Cromartie W. J., Gooder H., Schwab J. H. Arthropathic properties related to the molecular weight of peptidoglycan-polysaccharide polymers of streptococcal cell walls. Infect Immun. 1982 Mar;35(3):1003–1010. doi: 10.1128/iai.35.3.1003-1010.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Keat A. Reiter's syndrome and reactive arthritis in perspective. N Engl J Med. 1983 Dec 29;309(26):1606–1615. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198312293092604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Noer H. R. An "experimental" epidemic of Reiter's syndrome. JAMA. 1966 Nov 14;198(7):693–698. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simon D. G., Kaslow R. A., Rosenbaum J., Kaye R. L., Calin A. Reiter's syndrome following epidemic shigellosis. J Rheumatol. 1981 Nov-Dec;8(6):969–973. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stuart J. M., Cremer M. A., Townes A. S., Kang A. H. Type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Passive transfer with serum and evidence that IgG anticollagen antibodies can cause arthritis. J Exp Med. 1982 Jan 1;155(1):1–16. doi: 10.1084/jem.155.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Trentham D. E., Dynesius R. A., David J. R. Passive transfer by cells of type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats. J Clin Invest. 1978 Aug;62(2):359–366. doi: 10.1172/JCI109136. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]