Serological response of patients with non-gonococcal urethritis to causative organism of contagious equine metritis 1977.
Abstract: The presence of allugtinins to the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (C.E.M.) in human serum has been confirmed. Agglutinins were found in the serum of 84 (37.6%) of 223 patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (N.G.U.), and in 12.5% of these patients there was a four-fold or greater rise in titre during the course of their illness. There was no evidence that these agglutinins were the result of infection by chlamydiae or ureaplasmas. Certain patients with these agglutinins seemed to respond better to therapy with antibiotics to which the C.E.M. bacterium is susceptible in vitro than did patients in whom these agglutinins were not found. The findings suggest that the C.E.M. bacterium or a microorganism related to it may be aetiologically involved in a proportion of patients with N.G.U. A search for such an organism in these patients is in progress.
Publication Date: 1979-03-31 PubMed ID: 85938DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91150-4Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- 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.
This research investigates the presence of antibodies to the bacterium that causes contagious equine metritis (C.E.M), a horse disease, in patients with non-gonococcal urethritis, a human disease. The study suggests that the C.E.M bacterium or a similar microorganism could play a role in cases of non-gonococcal urethritis.
Findings of Antibodies and Agglutinins in Patients with Non-gonococcal Urethritis
- The study confirmed the presence of antibodies, specifically agglutinins, to the microorganism which causes contagious equine metritis in human serum. Remember that antibodies are immune system proteins that help defend against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
- These agglutinins were found in about 37.6% of the 223 patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (N.G.U). Non-gonococcal urethritis is inflammation of the urethra that’s not caused by gonorrhea.
- In about 12.5% of these patients, there was a notable (four-fold or greater) increase in antibody levels during their illness. This signifies a strong immune response to the bacteria causing their urethritis.
Relevance to Chlamydiae and Ureaplasmas Infections
- The researchers found no evidence to suggest that these agglutinins (antibodies) were resulting from infections by chlamydiae or ureaplasmas. Both are types of bacteria that are commonly associated with urethritis. This implies that another bacterium may be involved.
Therapeutic Response and Antibiotics
- Patients with these agglutinins seemed to respond better to treatment with antibiotics that the C.E.M. bacterium is susceptible to in lab tests (in vitro) than patients without these agglutinins.
- This response implies that the C.E.M bacterium, or one related to it, could be causing some instances of non-gonococcal urethritis in humans and therefore could be a target for treatment.
Implications and Further Research
- The findings suggest that the C.E.M. bacterium or a microorganism related to it may play a role in non-gonococcal urethritis. This has spurred researchers to carry out further investigations to try and identify this microorganism in more patients.
- The outcome of such investigations could potentially lead to improved treatment options for this condition by identifying new bacteria as potential targets for therapies.
Cite This Article
APA
Taylor CE, Rosenthal RO, Taylor-Robinson D.
(1979).
Serological response of patients with non-gonococcal urethritis to causative organism of contagious equine metritis 1977.
Lancet, 1(8118), 700-701.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91150-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Agglutination Tests
- Agglutinins / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / isolation & purification
- Bacterial Infections
- Endometritis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- In Vitro Techniques
- Male
- Minocycline / therapeutic use
- Rifampin / therapeutic use
- Urethritis / drug therapy
- Urethritis / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Taylor-Robinson D, Furr PM, Hanna NF. Microbiological and serological study of non-gonococcal urethritis with special reference to Mycoplasma genitalium. Genitourin Med 1985 Oct;61(5):319-24.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
