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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
Published on: July 1, 2018
Severe cochlear inflammation and vestibular syndrome in an experimental model of Streptococcus suis infection in mice
M C Domínguez-Punaro1, U Koedel, T Hoegen
1Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses du Porc and Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
Abstract:
Hearing impairment is a common and frequently permanent sequel of Streptococcus suis meningitis in humans. Nevertheless, mechanisms underlying the development of cochlear damage have not been addressed so far. In the present work, we characterized a mouse model of suppurative labyrinthitis and meningitis induced by a systemic infection with S. suis and studied the impact of the injected bacterial dosage on the progression of such inflammatory events. We observed that high infection doses of bacteria lead to sustained bacteremia, with an increase in the permeability of the blood-labyrinth and blood-brain barriers, causing suppurative labyrinthitis and meningitis, respectively. However, in mice infected with a low dose of S. suis, bacteria disappeared quickly from blood, hence, cochlear inflammation and meningitis were not consistent features. This model of S. suis infection seems ideal to evaluate novel drugs that may help alleviate the negative consequences of such important sequelae of S. suis-induced meningitis and labyrinthitis.
Insights
Streptococcus suis meningitis can cause permanent hearing loss. This study developed a mouse model to understand cochlear damage mechanisms and test new treatments for this common sequela.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Hearing impairment is a frequent complication of Streptococcus suis meningitis.
- The mechanisms of cochlear damage in this condition remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a mouse model of Streptococcus suis-induced meningitis and suppurative labyrinthitis.
- To investigate the impact of bacterial dosage on inflammatory progression and barrier permeability.
- To establish a model for evaluating therapeutic interventions against S. suis sequelae.
Main Methods:
- Systemic infection of mice with varying doses of Streptococcus suis.
- Monitoring of bacteremia, blood-labyrinth barrier permeability, and blood-brain barrier permeability.
- Histopathological assessment of cochlear and meningeal inflammation.
Main Results:
- High S. suis doses caused sustained bacteremia, increased barrier permeability, and severe meningitis/labyrinthitis.
- Low S. suis doses resulted in rapid bacterial clearance, with inconsistent meningitis and cochlear inflammation.
- A dose-dependent relationship was observed between bacterial load and inflammatory severity.
Conclusions:
- The developed mouse model effectively replicates S. suis-induced meningitis and suppurative labyrinthitis.
- Bacterial dosage is critical in determining the severity of meningitis and cochlear damage.
- This model provides a platform for testing drugs to mitigate hearing loss and neurological deficits associated with S. suis infection.
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