FIG 2.

(A and B) Bacterial (log₁₀ CFU/g) recovery in the uterus (A) and spleen (B) of nonpregnant mice (n = 9/group) infected with B. abortus S2308 and uninfected controls inoculated with PBS. Bar graphs represent the average with SD. The black, light gray, and dark gray indicate 1, 2, and 11 weeks postinfection, respectively. Statistical differences between the groups were determined using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple-comparison test. *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001. (C) Inflammatory cell infiltrates composed of macrophages and lymphocytes in the endometrium of infected nonpregnant mice. (D and E) Positive immunolabelling of Brucella antigen (D) and Iba1-specific activated macrophages (E) in the endometrium of infected nonpregnant mice at 13 dpi. (F) Percentage stain per tissue area of macrophages in the endometrium of the respective mice. Estimation of stain area intensity was performed with Image J analysis. Significance was estimated using the Mann-Whitney test. **, P < 0.01. Asterisks on the images indicate inflammatory cell infiltrates (C), Brucella antigens (D), or Iba-1-positive macrophages (E).