An animal model of trachoma. II. The importance of repeated reinfection

Abstract

An animal model of chronic cicatrizing trachoma has been produced by repeated ocular inoculation with Chlamydia trachomatis serotype E, a genetically transmitted strain. We have now produced a chronic follicular conjunctivitis in cynomolgus monkeys by repeated inoculation with C. trachomatis serotype A, which has been isolated from an area of endemic trachoma. This disease was similar in all respects to that which followed infection with the serotype E strain. Cynomolgus monkeys inoculated with a single dose of serotype E of C. trachomatis strain developed an acute, self-limited follicular conjunctivitis, which was intense for 4 weeks and then slowly subsided. The organism could be reisolate..