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. 2020 Apr 24;10:168. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00168

Table 2.

Experimental studies of G. vaginalis infection in rodent models.

References Host species Bacterial Strain(s) Culture Media Culture Condition Culture time (h) Dose Route N n colonized
by G.v.
Positive for features/
complications of BV
Field et al., 1993 New Zealand & Calif. White Rabbits
(pregnant)
G.v. ATCC 14018 V-selective agar Increased CO2 48–72 2 × 104-
2 × 106
Uterine (transvag/ cervical cannula) 17 N/A 17/17 G.v. deciduitis; 15/17 G.v. intraamniotic infection; 10/17 severe neuronal injury (0 in controls); 2/17 had preterm labor; infected group had lower weight & high fetal mortality
McDuffie et al., 2002 New Zealand White Rabbits
(pregnant)
G.v. NR NR NR NR 107 16 11/16 G.v intraamniotic (9/16), uterine (11/16), blood (7/16), fetal brain (10/16), fetal heart (6/16), and fetal lung (8/16) infection.
Gilbert et al., 2013 C57BL/6 (inbred)
mice
G.v. JCP8151B NYC III Anaerobic chamber NR (16–18) 5 × 107 Intravaginal
(pipette)
39 36/39 Sialidase activity; epithelial exfoliation; clue-like cells, mucus degradation, uterine infection; absence of histologic inflammatory response
Hymes et al., 2013 C57BL/6 (inbred)
mice
G.v. ARG37 (mouse-passaged ATCC14018) NR 5% CO2 NR 5 × 106 Intravaginal
(5% gelatin)
10 10/10 DNase treatment reduced G.v. titers >10-fold
Sierra et al., 2018 CD-1(outbred)
mice (pregnant)
G.v. ATCC14019 Tryptic Soy Broth + 5% Horse Serum 5% CO2 NR 2.5 × 107 2.5 × 109
(twice)
Intravaginal
(pipette)
50-60 NR G.v. detected in cervicovaginal fluid; increased cervical pro-inflammatory cytokines; increased IL-6 in amniotic fluid, cervical remodeling but no increase in preterm birth
Gilbert et al., 2019 C57BL/6 (inbred)
mice
G.v.
JCP8151B;
P. bivia ATCC2903
NYC III (G.v.) CDC Anaerobe media + 10% laked sheep's blood (P.b.) Anaerobic chamber NR (16-18) G.v. 8 × 107
P. bivia 1-2 × 107
Inravaginal
(pipette)
31 23/31 (24hr) Sialidase activity; epithelial exfoliation; increased vaginal P. bivia titers in presence of G.v.; increased uterine infection by P. bivia in presence of G.v; absence of inflammatory response
Gilbert et al., 2017 C57BL/6 (inbred)
mice
G.v.
JCP8151B;
E. coli
UTI89
NYC III (G.v.) Anaerobic chamber 18 G.v. ~108 (twice) E. coli 107 Transurethral
(catheter)
46 N/A G.v. exposure triggered exfoliation of urothelial cells; emergence of E. coli reservoirs; G.v. kidney infection, kidney inflammation, more severe E. coli kidney infections
Trinh et al., 2011 ICR (outbred)
mice
KCTC5096 BHI broth + yeast extract, maltose, glucose, 10% horse serum or general anaerobic medium Sealed anaerobic jar “Up to 36 hours” 1.2 × 105 Intravaginal 6 NR Increased vaginal TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Decreased IL-10. Increased iNOS, COX-2, and myeloperoxidase acitivity. Histological vaginal inflammation
Joo et al., 2011 48 h 1 × 106 Increased vaginal TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17a, COX-2, iNOS, and myeloperoxidase. Decreased IL-10. Histological vaginal inflammation
Jang et al., 2017
Kim et al., 2019 C57BL/6 (inbred)
mice
NR General anaerobic medium NR 7 Increased TNF-α and myeloperoxidase in vagina and uterus. Decreased IL-10 in uterus