Vaginal colonization of pig-tailed macaques by Gardnerella vaginalis.

A. P. Johnson*, C. A. Ison, C. M. Hetherington, M. F. Osborn, G. Southerton, W. T. London, C. S. Easmon, D. Taylor-Robinson

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Ten pig-tailed macaques inoculated intravaginally with Gardnerella vaginalis organisms were colonized for 11-39 days. In contrast, 4 tamarins and 3 chimpanzees inoculated similarly failed to become colonized. Examination of Gram-stained vaginal smears obtained from infected pig-tailed macaques failed to demonstrate clue cells, a feature which is pathognomonic of non-specific vaginitis in humans. Additionally, the pH value, the levels of non-volatile fatty acids and the anaerobic flora of the macaque vagina differed from these aspects of the human vagina. While these differences indicate that gardnerella-infected macaques are unsuitable as a model of gardnerella-associated vaginitis in humans, such animals may prove useful for studying selected aspects of the biology of G. vaginalis such as the adhesion and interaction of the bacteria with the vaginal mucosa.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)207-210
    Number of pages4
    JournalScandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology, Supplement
    Volume86
    Publication statusPublished - 1984

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