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Home / Equine Research Bank / Infect Immun / Morphology of three strains of contagious equine metritis or...
Infection and immunity1985; 48(1); 94-108; doi: 10.1128/iai.48.1.94-108.1985

Morphology of three strains of contagious equine metritis organism.

Abstract: Examination of recently isolated cultures of three strains of Contagious Equine Metritis Organism grown on specially formulated, serum-free, clear typing medium revealed the presence of numerous colonial opacity variants. These colonies were prepared by a number of fixation and staining techniques and examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Opaque and transparent phenotypes produced copious amounts of extracellular material compared with intermediate-opacity phenotypes which produced little or none. Also unique to intermediate colonies were numerous thin intercellular strands, which may represent pili or polymers of extracellular material. The presence of an unusual fibrillar layer (with similar electron density to the extracellular material) on the outer leaf of the outer membrane also was confirmed. A number of other ultrastructural features also were noted, including an epilayer, a thin nonmembranous layer which covered colonies and adjacent agar.
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Publication Date: 1985-04-01 PubMed ID: 3838532PubMed Central: PMC261920DOI: 10.1128/iai.48.1.94-108.1985Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study focuses on the detailed examination of three strains of Contagious Equine Metritis Organism (CEMO) to identify and analyze their different characteristics, especially in terms of colonial opacity variants and extracellular material production.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The study’s primary focus was to investigate the morphology of three strains of Contagious Equine Metritis Organism (CEMO), an infection that can be sexually transmitted amongst horses.
  • The researchers cultivated these cultures on a specialized, serum-free, clear typing medium.
  • The researchers used various fixation and staining techniques to prepare the colonies for examination.
  • Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy, powerful tools for visualizing biological samples at high resolution, were used to study the cultures.

    • Findings of the Study

    • During examination, the researchers noticed a high number of colonial opacity variants in the cultures.
    • The opaque and transparent phenotypes were found to yield more extracellular material than the phenotypes with intermediate-opacity. The latter produced little to no extracellular material.
    • The researchers also noticed unique thin strands connecting cells (intercellular) in intermediate colonies. These may either be pili (hair-like structures on the surface of many bacteria) or polymers of extracellular material according to the researchers.

      • Findings on Ultrastructural Features

      • Upon further examination, the researchers also noticed an unusual fibrillar layer with similar electron density to the extracellular material, on the outer leaf of the outer membrane.
      • Other ultrastructural features worth noting were the epilayer, a thin nonmembranous layer that covered colonies and adjacent agar.
      • However, the abstract does not provide detail about the implications of these ultrastructural features.

      Conclusion

      • This research provides in-depth knowledge on the morphological characteristics of Contagious Equine Metritis Organism and paves the way for future studies to understand the pathogenesis of the disease and potentially define therapeutic strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Hitchcock PJ, Brown TM, Corwin D, Hayes SF, Olszewski A, Todd WJ. (1985). Morphology of three strains of contagious equine metritis organism. Infect Immun, 48(1), 94-108. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.48.1.94-108.1985

Publication

Infection and immunity
ISSN: 0019-9567
NlmUniqueID: 0246127
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 1
Pages: 94-108

Researcher Affiliations

Hitchcock, P J
    Brown, T M
      Corwin, D
        Hayes, S F
          Olszewski, A
            Todd, W J

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
              • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
              • Culture Media
              • Endometritis / microbiology
              • Endometritis / veterinary
              • Female
              • Gram-Negative Bacteria / cytology
              • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
              • Gram-Negative Bacteria / ultrastructure
              • Horse Diseases / microbiology
              • Horses
              • Microscopy, Electron
              • Phenotype
              • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / microbiology
              • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / veterinary

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              Citations

              This article has been cited 5 times.
              1. He Y, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Wu B, Xue Y, Ye C, Li Q, Olivia AN, Tembo JM, Chen H, Cai H, Chen T. Distinct Patterns of Host Adherence by Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolated from Experimental Gonorrhea.. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2021;2021:7865405.
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