Abstract
Parameters of infection of the chicken embryo with Neisseria gonorrhoeae were defined in order to standardize infectious and lethal doses. Virulent (T1) and avirulent (T3) gonococci from two strains were used to infect 7- to 12-day-old White Leghorn chicken embryos via the yolk sac (YS) or chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route. Infection of embryos was established following YS inoculation of 1 to 10 viable gonococci. Although 8- to 10-day-old embryos were the most susceptible, an inoculum of less than 100 gonococci was sufficient to kill any age embryo via this route. Embryos were less susceptible to infection via the CAM, where an inoculum of from 105 to 106 colony-forming units was lethal by 42 h. Strain and morphological type had a variable influence on the ability of the gonococcus to infect and kill the chicken embryo by either route; however, agar-grown and broth-grown organisms produced consistently similar mean lethal dose (LD50) and mean infective dose (ID50) values. LD50 and ID50 differences between T1 and T3 gonococci from strain 72H641 were not apparent after either YS or CAM inoculation of 8- or 10-day chicken embryos, respectively. YS and CAM LD50 values for strain 72H641 T1 and T3 and CDC 9 T3 were also similar; however, these values were slightly lower for CDC 9 T1. In terms of infectivity or colonization, CDC 9 T1 and T3 had higher ID50 values via the YS and lower ID50 values via the CAM than 72H641. CDC 9 T1 was slightly more infective via the YS and less infective via the CAM than its T3 counterpart. Although the gonococcal strain used will influence interpretation of results, infection of both YS and CAM was highly reproducible in terms of gross pathology and of LD50 and ID50 data for a particular strain and colony type.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Arko R. J. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: experimental infection of laboratory animals. Science. 1972 Sep 29;177(4055):1200–1201. doi: 10.1126/science.177.4055.1200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Buchanan T. M., Gotschlich E. C. Studies on gonococcus infection. 3. Correlation of gonococcal colony morphology with infectivity for the chick embryo. J Exp Med. 1973 Jan 1;137(1):196–200. doi: 10.1084/jem.137.1.196. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bumgarner L. R., Finkelstein R. A. Pathogenesis and immunology of experimental gonococcal infection: virulence of colony types of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for chicken embryos. Infect Immun. 1973 Dec;8(6):919–924. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.6.919-924.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KELLOGG D. S., Jr, PEACOCK W. L., Jr, DEACON W. E., BROWN L., PIRKLE D. I. NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE. I. VIRULENCE GENETICALLY LINKED TO CLONAL VARIATION. J Bacteriol. 1963 Jun;85:1274–1279. doi: 10.1128/jb.85.6.1274-1279.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lucas C. T., Chandler F., Jr, Martin J. E., Jr, Schmale J. D. Transfer of gonococcal urethritis from man to chimpanzee. An animal model for gonorrhea. JAMA. 1971 Jun 7;216(10):1612–1614. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morse S. A., Bartenstein L. Factors affecting autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1974 Apr;145(4):1418–1421. doi: 10.3181/00379727-145-38025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SMITH R. T., THOMAS L. The lethal effect of endotoxins on the chick embryo. J Exp Med. 1956 Aug 1;104(2):217–231. doi: 10.1084/jem.104.2.217. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WALSH M. J., BROWN B. C., BROWN L., PIRKLE C. I. USE OF THE CHICK EMBRYO IN MAINTAINING AND RESTORING VIRULENCE OF NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE. J Bacteriol. 1963 Sep;86:478–481. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.3.478-481.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]