A Murine Model for the Study of Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infections during Pregnancy

Pregnant BALB/c mice were inoculated intravaginally on day 5 of gestation with the Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis biovar. Animals that received 10(5), 10(6), or 10(7) inclusion-forming units (IFU) of C. trachomatis delivered prematurely on days 15 to 16 of gestation. A focal inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the wall of the uterus on the day 14 of gestation in animals inoculated with 10(5) IFU. In this group of mice, immunohistochemical analysis showed chlamydial inclusions in the endometrium and fetal membranes.