Significant reduction in inflammatory response in the macaque model of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease with azithromycin treatment

J Infect Dis. 2005 Jul 1;192(1):129-35. doi: 10.1086/431365. Epub 2005 May 25.

Abstract

We inoculated 45 female macaques in the cervix with Chlamydia trachomatis once weekly for 5 weeks and randomly assigned them to treatment with doxycycline (n=12), azithromycin (n=12), or placebo (n=21). At hysterectomy, cervical cultures remained positive in 12 of 21 placebo-treated monkeys, versus 0 of 12 doxycycline- or azithromycin-treated monkeys (P<.01); cervical ligase chain reaction remained positive in 15 placebo-, 1 doxycycline-, and 0 azithromycin-treated monkeys. Tubal swabs remained positive in 3 placebo-, 1 doxycycline-, and 0 azithromycin-treated monkeys. Immunopathologic damage was moderate to widespread in upper and lower reproductive-tract tissues from placebo- and doxycycline-treated monkeys but were significantly reduced in azithromycin-treated monkeys. Transforming growth factor- beta was also significantly less prevalent in azithromycin-treated monkeys. Azithromycin treatment dramatically reduced the inflammatory response and was highly effective in eradicating C. trachomatis from the lower and upper reproductive tract (12/12), compared with doxycycline (7/12) and placebo (3/21).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Chlamydia Infections / drug therapy*
  • Chlamydia Infections / physiopathology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Female
  • Macaca nemestrina
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / drug therapy*
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / microbiology
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Azithromycin