IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF GUINEA PIG INCLUSION CONJUNCTIVITIS

角膜混浊和血管化发生在反复或 慢性衣原体眼部感染，可能导致失明。 导致角膜混浊的机制是已知的，但可能是 是由对衣原体过敏引起的 研究 在慢性衣原体感染的角膜受累，我们有 开发了一种动物模型，使用豚鼠局部治疗， 青霉素感染C.鹦鹉热GPIC株。 角膜 不透明和血管形成仅在动物中同时发生 感染GPIC病原体，用青霉素治疗。 不透明度 从结膜中清除GPIC制剂后消退; 然而，角膜会受到永久性损伤， 血管化和瘢痕形成的观察后几个月的决议 不透明 这种动物模型将有助于研究 衣原体和衣原体成分在角膜发育中的作用 衣原体感染时的损伤。 C.鹦鹉热菌株GPIC可以 除了结膜外，还会感染生殖道。 我们有 利用该模型来确定是否对衣原体过敏 发生在输卵管和子宫的豚鼠恢复从一个 以前的阴道感染。 它们的子宫和输卵管 动物在接种后发生显著炎症， C.鹦鹉热GPIC株。 这种炎症需要 进一步表征，以确定其是否是特征性的 迟发型超敏反应或细胞毒性。

Corneal opacity and vascularization occurs following repeated or chronic chlamydial ocular infections and may results in blindness. The mechanisms resulting in corneal opacity are known but may be caused by hypersensitivity to chlamydial components. To study corneal involvement during chronic chlamydial infections, we have developed an animal model using guinea pigs treated topically with penicillin during infection with C. psittaci strain GPIC. Corneal opacity and vascularization occurs only in animals simultaneously infected with GPIC agent and treated with penicillin. Opacity resolves with clearance of GPIC agent from the conjunctivae; however, the cornea sustains permanent damage as evidenced by vascularization and scarring observed months after resolution of opacity. This animal model will be useful to study the role of chlamydiae and chlamydial components in the development of corneal damage during chlamydial infections. C. psittaci strain GPIC can infect the genital tract in addition to the conjunctiva. We have utilized this model to determine if hypersensitivity to chlamydiae occurs in the oviduct and uterus of guinea pigs recovered from a previous vaginal infection. The uteri and oviducts of these animals develop significant inflammation following inoculation of an extract of C. psittaci strain GPIC. This inflammation needs to be further characterized to determine whether it is characteristic of delayed hypersensitivity or of cellular toxicity.