Chlamydia abortus is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium that infects a large number of mammalian species. It is known to be the agent of the Enzootic Ovine Abortion, but an important and subtle role is represented by its involvement in genital tract infections of the bovine species, causing metritis and infertility [1]. Currently, Sachse et al [2] adopt the classification that groups the 11 Chlamydia species in a single genus, the genus Chlamydia. Genital infection, occasional abortion, and conjunctivitis have been reported in mares, but the relationship between abortion and chlamydial infection is still under discussion [3]. Microorganisms belonging to the genus Chlamydia play a role in human infertility: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the main agents involved in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and can determine chronic endometritis [4]. Chronic damages due to the persistence of Chlamydia abortus infection appear to be similar to the lesions found in chronic infection by C. trachomatis [5] and similar, in histologic aspects, to ocular lesions that are found in Trachoma [6]. Dealing with subfertility in mares, a particular attention should be paid to chronic endometritis (CE). Chronic endometritis often follows “postbreeding endometritis,” that is a common reaction in response to semen introduction into the uterus or follows repeated artificial inseminations or intrauterine treatments. Microorganisms ascending from the lower genital tract can colonize the uterine cavity; in normal conditions, mechanisms such as cervical mucus plug, the endometrial epithelium and its immune cellular components (neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells), and elements of the innate immune system, including natural antimicrobial peptides seem to play an important role to restrict bacterial proliferation and invasion [7,8]. When defense mechanisms are ineffective or conformation anomalies impair uterine clearance, we assist at the establishment of CE. Chronic endometritis consists of the protraction of an inflammatory condition of uterine endometrium characterized by an abnormal pattern of lymphocyte subsets and, consequently, an aberrant endometrial microenvironment. Although CE can be asymptomatic, recent studies have shown that it is related with repeated implantation failures after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, unexplained

Chronic endometritis in subfertile mares with presence of chlamydial DNA / Nervo, Tiziana; Nebbia, Patrizia; Bertero, Alessia; Robino, Patrizia; Stella, Maria Cristina; Rota, Ada; Appino, Simonetta. - In: JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE. - ISSN 0737-0806. - 73:(2019), pp. 91-94. [10.1016/j.jevs.2018.12.003]

Chronic endometritis in subfertile mares with presence of chlamydial DNA

Appino, Simonetta
2019-01-01

Abstract

Chlamydia abortus is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium that infects a large number of mammalian species. It is known to be the agent of the Enzootic Ovine Abortion, but an important and subtle role is represented by its involvement in genital tract infections of the bovine species, causing metritis and infertility [1]. Currently, Sachse et al [2] adopt the classification that groups the 11 Chlamydia species in a single genus, the genus Chlamydia. Genital infection, occasional abortion, and conjunctivitis have been reported in mares, but the relationship between abortion and chlamydial infection is still under discussion [3]. Microorganisms belonging to the genus Chlamydia play a role in human infertility: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the main agents involved in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and can determine chronic endometritis [4]. Chronic damages due to the persistence of Chlamydia abortus infection appear to be similar to the lesions found in chronic infection by C. trachomatis [5] and similar, in histologic aspects, to ocular lesions that are found in Trachoma [6]. Dealing with subfertility in mares, a particular attention should be paid to chronic endometritis (CE). Chronic endometritis often follows “postbreeding endometritis,” that is a common reaction in response to semen introduction into the uterus or follows repeated artificial inseminations or intrauterine treatments. Microorganisms ascending from the lower genital tract can colonize the uterine cavity; in normal conditions, mechanisms such as cervical mucus plug, the endometrial epithelium and its immune cellular components (neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells), and elements of the innate immune system, including natural antimicrobial peptides seem to play an important role to restrict bacterial proliferation and invasion [7,8]. When defense mechanisms are ineffective or conformation anomalies impair uterine clearance, we assist at the establishment of CE. Chronic endometritis consists of the protraction of an inflammatory condition of uterine endometrium characterized by an abnormal pattern of lymphocyte subsets and, consequently, an aberrant endometrial microenvironment. Although CE can be asymptomatic, recent studies have shown that it is related with repeated implantation failures after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, unexplained
2019
Chronic endometritis in subfertile mares with presence of chlamydial DNA / Nervo, Tiziana; Nebbia, Patrizia; Bertero, Alessia; Robino, Patrizia; Stella, Maria Cristina; Rota, Ada; Appino, Simonetta. - In: JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE. - ISSN 0737-0806. - 73:(2019), pp. 91-94. [10.1016/j.jevs.2018.12.003]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/219511
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