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Biomedical subjects

D Taylor-Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to D Taylor-Robinson.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

A simple method for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in general practice.

Chlamydial infection is an important cause of genital tract disease in women and is often silent. Collection, storage and transportation of specimens required for culture pose problems which have made studies difficult and diagnosis impractical outside hospitals or sexually transmitted disease clinics.The direct monoclonal antibody test (MicroTrak, Syva) for detecting chlamydiae is comparable with the traditional culture method in sensitivity and specificity. The test requires only the preparation of a smear on a slide, making it convenient for use in general practice. The feasibility of using this procedure in an inner city practice was demonstrated in tests on 188 women who required pelvic examination. Of 169 women from whom valid specimens were obtained 18 (10.7%) were found to have a chlamydial infection. Only three of the infected women were asymptomatic and the organisms were associated particularly with dysuria. The value of the test in comparison with other procedures currently available for detecting chlamydiae is emphasized.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed1987

Animal models of Mycoplasma genitalium urogenital infection.

Male and female animals were inoculated urogenitally with Mycoplasma genitalium, recovered originally from men with nongonococcal urethritis. Mice, hamsters and male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were resistant. Male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were not as sensitive as male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): 9 of 11 developed an obvious genital tract infection, some shedding organisms for more than 18 weeks. M. genitalium was recovered from the blood of two of them when large numbers of organisms were in the urethra. Most of the chimpanzees colonized with the organisms had increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the genital tract and developed a fourfold or greater antibody response. Female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and female tamarins (Saguinus mystar) exhibited low-level genital tract infections following intravaginal inoculation, whereas marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and chimpanzees developed prolonged infections after similar inoculation; thus, female chimpanzees shed organisms for 12 to 15 weeks. Marmosets and grivet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) developed salpingitis with antibody responses after intraoviduct inoculation, and baboons (Papio anubis) developed parametritis after intracervical inoculation. The results offer substantial evidence for the pathogenicity of M. genitalium for the urogenital tract of subhuman primates, and suggest that the microorganism may have a role in human genital tract infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Urinary-tract infection by Mycoplasma pulmonis in mice and its wider implications.

Young adult mice were inoculated intravenously with strains JB or Peter C of Mycoplasma pulmonis. A few were inoculated intranasally with strain JB. This strain but not Peter C was isolated for 50 days or more from the urines of more than half of the mice. Those of strains TO, C3H and CBA, but not CFLP, were susceptible. Recovery of mycoplasmas was intermittent and sometimes the numbers isolated varied within individual mice and between mice of a particular strain, ranging from 5 X 10(1) to greater than or equal to 5 X 10(7) colour-changing units/ml. Fifty serial passes of M. pulmonis, strain JB, in mycoplasmal medium resulted in attenuation, the organisms after inoculation of TO mice not being recovered from the urine and excretion not being stimulated by treating the mice with progesterone. At autopsy, the organisms of early passage were usually but not invariably isolated from the kidneys of mice that had been urinary excretors. About half of the latter had no renal histopathological changes. The others had usually minimal renal perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates but occasionally more widespread inflammatory changes. The findings may have relevance to the spread of mycoplasmal infection within mouse colonies and suggest that an association between such infection and nephritis in other species, including man, should be sought more closely.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Urogenital challenge of primate species with Mycoplasma genitalium and characteristics of infection induced in chimpanzees.

Eighteen male and eight female primates, representing five subhuman species, were inoculated urogenitally with Mycoplasma genitalium, a microorganism recovered from men with nongonococcal urethritis. Male rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys apparently were resistant. Female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and female tamarins (Saguinus mystax) exhibited low-level, genital-tract infections. Male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) developed an obvious genital-tract infection, with some shedding organisms for 21 weeks. M. genitalium was recovered from the blood of two of the male chimpanzees, usually when large numbers of organisms were in the urethra. Female chimpanzees generally shed organisms for 12-15 weeks. Most chimpanzees colonized with the organism exhibited increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the genital tract and developed a significant antibody response. The results offer substantial evidence for the pathogenicity of M. genitalium for the urogenital tract of higher primates and suggest the microorganism may have a role in human genital-tract infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A numerical taxonomic study of anaerobic gram-negative bacilli classified as Bacteroides ureolyticus isolated from patients with non-gonococcal urethritis.

A numerical taxonomic study of 64 strains of anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli isolated from men with non-gonococcal urethritis, two unclassified laboratory strains of 'corroding bacilli', and 12 other strains of anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli, including nine received as anaerobic curved rods and three as 'Bacteroides corrodens' (B. ureolyticus), isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis, was undertaken. Seventeen reference anaerobic strains belonging to the genera Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Mobiluncus, Mitsuokella and Wolinella were included. Morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics were examined in 103 tests. The resemblance between the 95 strains was calculated using the SSM, SJ and DP coefficients for cluster analyses based on the UPGMA method. All three approaches gave similar groupings, and the estimated average probability of test error was 2.46%. The strains fell into 10 phenons. The unclassified strains from men and three from women with lower genital-tract infections, and the laboratory strains of 'corroding bacilli' clustered in one phenon with the reference strains of B. ureolyticus, indicating that they correspond to B. ureolyticus. The other unclassified strains of anaerobic curved rods clustered as a distinct phenon. They correspond to species of the newly described genus Mobiluncus. The taxonomic data and the compilation of diagnostic tables serve as a useful guide for the laboratory identification of clinical isolates regarded as B. ureolyticus.

Bacteroides↗
PubMed1986

Spontaneous early preterm labour associated with abnormal genital bacterial colonization.

The association between infection and preterm labour was studied in 72 women in spontaneous preterm labour between 26 and 34 weeks gestation and in 26 control subjects having an elective caesarean section at the same gestational age. The genital microbial flora of each group was studied comprehensively and included mycoplasmas, chlamydiae, ureaplasmas and anaerobes. Subsequent neonatal infection and chorioamnionitis was also studied. Abnormal bacterial colonization, the presence of ureaplasmas, heavy growth of mycoplasmas and chorioamnionitis were all found significantly more often in the study group. This supports the premise that a significant proportion of idiopathic preterm labour is associated with infection and this may permit better prediction and prevention of preterm birth. The continued use of tocolytics should depend upon the identification of the presence or absence of infection. Infection appeared to be the result rather than the cause of ruptured membranes. A recommendation with respect to the classification of abnormal or normal bacterial colonization between 26 and 34 weeks is suggested on the basis of strict criteria.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1986

The effect of interferon on human papillomaviruses associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial of leucocyte interferon showed that, contrary to previous reports, interferon had no significant effect on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) when applied topically in a gel. DNA hybridization of cervical scrapes was used to monitor the effect of interferon on the human papillomaviruses (HPV) associated with CIN. There was, however, no significant difference in the expression of HPV 6 or 16 in the cervical epithelium of patients treated with interferon compared with those given a placebo. By using superficial cells scraped from the surface of the cervical epithelium as a source of DNA for viral studies, we were able to investigate the relation between HPV and CIN without interfering with the natural history of the disease. HPV 16 was detected in lesions which persisted while HPV 6 only was detected in one lesion that regressed. Regression was clearly associated with reduction in the number of copies of viral DNA per cell in this case. Dual infection with HPV types 6 and 16 were recorded in two patients with persistent lesions. In one patient, hybridization studies indicated that infection with HPV 16 could have occurred after infection with type 6 was established, and it is postulated that this may have changed the nature of the cervical lesion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The Micro Trak test for rapid detection of chlamydiae in diagnosing and managing women with abdominal pain.

Using a fluorescein labelled monoclonal antibody ("Micro Trak") to identify chlamydia elementary bodies in endocervical smears, we detected Chlamydia trachomatis in 31 (21%) of 150 cases of classic pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) and in 42 (18%) of 232 cases of abdominal pain not diagnosed as PID. Only 43 (59%) of the women yielding chlamydiae would have received treatment in the absence of a diagnostic service for chlamydial infection. Evidence of chlamydial infection should be sought in all women presenting to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic with abdominal pain.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1986

Effect of short term treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis with minocycline.

Two hundred and forty four men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) took part in a trial of minocycline. Chlamydiae were isolated from 34%, ureaplasmas from 47.1%, and Mycoplasma hominis from 10.2%. These micro-organisms were isolated least often from men suffering their third or more attack of NGU, and men in this group failed most often to respond to minocycline. Irrespective of the micro-organisms isolated originally or the number of previous attacks, the failure rate (10%) for men receiving minocycline for 10 days was significantly less than for those receiving this antibiotic for one or two days. More than half of the men suffering third attacks from whom micro-organisms were not isolated failed to respond to these short regimens. One of the lowest failure rates (4%) after short term treatment, however, was seen in men experiencing first attacks who yielded only ureaplasmas with or without M hominis, which indicates the importance of ureaplasmas in this group of patients. Chlamydiae were not reisolated from any patient after treatment, irrespective of its duration, and the only ureaplasmas that were reisolated were from nine patients who carried tetracycline resistant strains. Reasons for the absence of chlamydiae and ureaplasmas in the presence of disease and the need to look for other microorganisms as a cause of NGU are discussed among other issues raised by these results.

Chlamydia↗
PubMed1986

Microbiological survey of acute epididymitis.

In an 18 month period, 198 men presented with a painful, swollen, and tender epididymis or testicular or scrotal pain. Fifty were excluded from analysis because of prior antibiotic treatment or a history of the disease, or both. Of the remaining patients, epididymitis was not diagnosed in 108, though 23 (21%) of them had urethritis. Thus 40 men were seen who had acute unilateral epididymitis. Of the 27 less than 35 years old, 13 (48%) had a urethral chlamydial infection and two others a gonococcal infection. Sexually transmitted micro-organisms were not confined, however, to the younger age group, though only two (15%) of 13 men who were 35 years or older had a urethral chlamydial infection. Most, that is 29 (73%), of the patients with acute epididymitis also had urethritis when first seen. Urethral micro-organisms were found most often in 13 men who had severe epididymitis, chlamydial infection occurring in eight (62%) of the patients in this category.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Infertility in mice infected genitally with a human strain of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Progesterone-treated C3H and TO mice were inoculated genitally with a human C. trachomatis strain, serovar E, designated N.I. 1 or with 2SP control medium. Of the C3H mice serving as controls 93% had litters by the end of a 6-month period compared to 31% of mice infected with chlamydiae. This infertility could not be explained by tubal occlusion, since the oviducts appeared normal at autopsy. Some of the mice were induced to superovulate. Eggs were never recovered from the oviducts on the inoculated sides of infertile mice although they were sometimes found in the lumen of the uninoculated oviducts. In contrast, eggs were recovered routinely from both oviducts of control mice. In addition, eggs and/or their accompanying cumulus cells could be seen in the periovarial space of mice inoculated with chlamydiae, indicating a failure of the transportation of eggs to the oviduct. This could explain the high incidence of ectopic pregnancies in women after chlamydial infection. No adverse effect on fertility was seen in TO mice inoculated genitally with strain N.I.1. Of the mice given 2SP medium, 73% had litters, but 87% of the mice inoculated with chlamydiae were also fertile. There was, however, a significantly greater variation in the birth weights of mice born to infected TO mothers than those born to control mice. This difference in the susceptibility of mouse strains suggests that a genetic predisposition should also be considered for man.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Immunity to mycoplasmal infection of the genital tract: a mouse model.

Thirty-three TO mice, 24 of which had received progesterone, were infected originally by Mycoplasma pulmonis given vaginally. Thirty-one of the mice were free of the organisms in the genital tract 236 days later at which time all of them were treated again with progesterone and rechallenged with M. pulmonis vaginally. All 31 mice were resistant. In contrast, of 21 TO mice of the same age that were not infected originally 15 (71%) became infected persistently after vaginal rechallenge. In similar experiments, 12 CBA mice, nine of which had received progesterone, were infected originally. Ten of these mice were free of the organisms genitally 2 years later, at which time all of them were rechallenged vaginally. Only two mice (20%) were reinfected, whereas six (86%) out of seven mice, not infected originally, were reinfected. Autopsy examination revealed that neither infection nor immunity was confined to the lower genital tract. Thus, M. pulmonis organisms were not detected in the upper tract of five TO mice that remained mycoplasma-free vaginally after rechallenge. The contribution of oropharyngeal M. pulmonis infection, which occurred in most of the mice, to the solid, long-lasting genital-tract resistance was difficult to assess, but in two mice, at least, immunity was not afforded by such infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Salpingitis in mice induced by human strains of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Human strains of Chlamydia trachomatis were inoculated unilaterally into the genital tracts of female TO, CBA, CBA/nu and C3H mice via the intrauterine route or under the ovarian bursa. Inflammatory changes were not seen in the oviducts or uterus of mice given two laboratory-adapted LGV serovars (L1 and L2), although chlamydiae were recovered from the lower genital tract. However, salpingitis and endometritis occurred after each of three chlamydial strains (serovars D and E) had been inoculated. Oviduct inflammation was seen for up to 6 weeks after inoculation but reached maximum severity usually after about 2 weeks, the lumen sometimes being occluded by exudate and necrotic debris. Pathological changes were seen often in both oviducts indicating canalicular spread of the organisms through the uterus. Pre-treatment of the mice with progesterone had an enhancing effect in that the lesions developed more rapidly; such treatment, in halting the oestrous cycle, probably made a larger number of target cells available for more efficient infection. Involvement of the oviduct on the uninoculated side occurred more rapidly in T-cell impaired nude mice than in immunologically normal mice, although there was little or no effect on the severity of the oviductal changes. There was evidence that the susceptibility of different strains of mice to chlamydial salpingitis varied. Thus, inflammatory changes in C3H mice were more severe than in TO mice and the changes in C3H and CBA strains were longer lasting than those in TO mice. This suggests that a possible genetic predisposition in the human situation should not be ignored. Finally, one chlamydial strain of low passage produced more severe salpingitis in mice than another strain of similar passage. By analogy different chlamydial strains may not be of equal pathogenicity in the human situation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Neonatal mycoplasmaemia: Mycoplasma hominis as a significant cause of disease?

A full-term baby boy had respiratory distress, fever and pneumonia within 20 h of birth. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from blood taken after 20 h and 11 days was accompanied by an antibody response. Although chlamydial IgM antibody was detected, chlamydial infection probably did not cause the pneumonia. Penicillin was ineffective but treatment with gentamicin, and particularly tetracycline, was associated with slow improvement. Mycoplasma hominis should be considered as a cause of respiratory disease and fever in neonates.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1985

The interplay of host and organism factors in infection of the mouse genital tract by Mycoplasma pulmonis.

Mice of strain TO, in groups of ten, were inoculated intravaginally with Mycoplasma pulmonis organisms. Seven mice became infected after inoculation of organisms with strong haemadsorptive capacity, four after inoculation of organisms with diminished adsorptive capacity following ten passes in medium, and none after inoculation of apparently non-adsorbing organisms which had been passed 50 times. There appeared to be a correlation, therefore, between the ability to infect and the cytadsorptive capacity of the organisms. There was only a minimal vaginal polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) response in the infected mice and most of them had ceased to be infected by 35-42 days. In contrast, mice treated with progesterone had enhanced infections; all those given strongly haemadsorbing organisms, and organisms passed ten times, became infected and remained so for at least 42 days. Furthermore, at least ten fold more organisms were recovered from progesterone-treated than from untreated mice, and the PMNL response was much greater. Most of the progesterone-treated mice given organisms passed 50 times did not become infected, but some did, and the organisms recovered from them were fully cytadsorptive. It is postulated that a few cytadsorbing organisms in this inoculum were induced to infect under the enhancing effect of progesterone.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1985

The effect of homogenising tissues either before or after storage on the isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis.

To determine whether freezing before homogenisation or the reverse procedure was the best way of achieving maximal recovery of chlamydiae from solid tissues, specimens from mice infected experimentally with Chlamydia trachomatis were used. For 10 of 12 mice, three-fold to over fifty-fold more chlamydiae were isolated from portions of spleens which were homogenised before freezing in liquid nitrogen than from those which were homogenised after being stored frozen. The value of homogenising small strips of infected genital tissue before freezing was less apparent. Nevertheless, if this was undertaken, the number of chlamydiae recovered from the tissues of four of 10 mice was three-fold to seven-fold more than if the tissues were homogenised after freezing.

Animals↗