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Human and bovine group B streptococci (types II and III) variations in the virulence for pregnant mice

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Abstract

Virulence of 10 human and 10 bovine isolates (5 type II and 5 type III of each origin) of group B streptococci (GBS) was measured in two experimental mouse models. In the first model, mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) infected, and the 50% lethal doses (LD50) were significantly lower for human isolates than for bovine isolates. In the second model, abortion and lethality were recorded for mice infected intravenously (i.v.) on day 13 of pregnancy. All 10 human isolates induced abortions, whereas only 5 bovine isolates did so. There was no relationship between 50% abortive doses determined for 9 isolates (4 human and 5 bovine) and the LD50 values. Post-partum lethality was significantly correlated with LD50 values.

Our studies suggested that the lethality test for nonpregnant mice and the abortion test for pregnant mice were not redundant and that the latter would be a useful additional model for identification of virulence factors of GBS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology of Reproduction, National Institute of Agronomic Research, 37380, Nouzilly, France

    Bernard Poutrel, Pascal Rainard & Yannick Lautrou

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  1. Bernard Poutrel
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  2. Pascal Rainard
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  3. Yannick Lautrou
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Poutrel, B., Rainard, P. & Lautrou, Y. Human and bovine group B streptococci (types II and III) variations in the virulence for pregnant mice. Current Microbiology 17, 77–81 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568789

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