Open AccessIntramammary immunization with live‐attenuated Staphylococcus aureus : microbiological and immunological studies in a mouse mastitis model
Author(s) -
García Verónica,
Gómez Marisa,
Iglesias Mercedes,
Sanjuan Norberto,
Gherardi Magdalena,
Cristina Cerquetti M.,
Sordelli Daniel
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1996.tb00266.x
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , mastitis , staphylococcal infections , immunization , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mammary gland , immunity , immunology , immune system , bacteria , genetics , cancer , breast cancer
Mammary infection was induced in lactating mice by intramammary injection of Staphylococcus aureus . Histopathological analysis revealed infiltration and lesions of varying magnitude that were still apparent 21 days after the challenge. Concomitantly, viable S. aureus was recovered from infected mammary glands. Mice were immunized by the intramammary route with 5 × 10 6 colony forming units of a temperature‐sensitive mutant of S. aureus and subsequently received a boosting injection seven days later. On day 14 mice were challenged by the intramammary route with the wild‐type strain. Intramammary immunization induced a significant increase in milk IgA ( P < 0.05), serum IgG ( P < 0.05) and serum IgA ( P < 0.05) on the day of the challenge, when compared with non‐immunized mice. Immunization decreased significantly ( P < 0.01) the number of S. aureus colony forming units recovered 96 h after intramammary challenge. In conclusion, the feasibility of immunizing locally with temperature‐sensitive S. aureus to induce immunity in the mouse mammary gland was demonstrated. The mouse model of mastitis is proposed as a useful system for screening temperature‐sensitive S. aureus strains to be utilized in the development of a vaccine.