Listeria monocytogenes infection in pregnant guinea pigs is associated with maternal liver necrosis, a decrease in maternal serum TNF-alpha concentrations, and an increase in placental apoptosis

Reproductive Toxicology
Elizabeth Ann IrvinMary Alice Smith

Abstract

Stillbirths and spontaneous abortions can result when pregnant women are exposed to the food borne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. Fetuses and neonates account for one-third of the 2500 cases annually. The objectives were to determine the dose dependent trends of immunological and pathological effects in pregnant guinea pigs after infection with L. monocytogenes. Timed pregnant guinea pigs were treated on gestation day (gd) 35 with doses of 10(4) to 10(8) colony forming units (CFUs) and sacrificed on gd 56. Hepatic lesions were found in dams treated with >or=10(5)CFUs. Apoptosis was detected in significantly more placentas from dams treated with >or=10(6)CFUs compared to controls. Maternal serum TNF-alpha concentrations were significantly decreased in all dose groups compared to controls. In conclusion, increases in premature delivery, maternal hepatic effects and placental apoptosis along with a decrease in TNF-alpha concentrations were associated with L. monocytogenes infection in pregnant guinea pigs.

References

Oct 8, 1999·Emerging Infectious Diseases·P S MeadR V Tauxe
Feb 22, 2003·Infection and Immunity·Mary Alice SmithMichael P Doyle
Jul 10, 2003·Vaccine·Patrizia Luppi
Aug 5, 2003·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·Marjan AbbasiLarry J Guilbert
Dec 23, 2003·Infection and Immunity·Anna I BakardjievDaniel A Portnoy
Aug 11, 2007·American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·Erica L HarnettGraeme N Smith

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Citations

Aug 20, 2009·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·Robert L BuchananElizabeth Julien
Sep 29, 2011·PloS One·Masato TachibanaMasahisa Watarai
Apr 12, 2017·Birth Defects Research·Rahat Wadhwa Desai, Mary Alice Smith
Nov 6, 2009·Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·Denita WilliamsMary Alice Smith
Nov 12, 2009·Journal of Food Protection·Arena N RichardsonMary Alice Smith

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