Microalgae as a prospective antibiotic replacement therapy for induced endometritis in rats through regulating...

The purpose of this study was to monitor the antimicrobial role of Spirulina platensis (SP) and Chlorella vulgaris (CV) against induced endometritis using E. coli O157 in Albino rats.

After preparation of encapsulated flavoured microalgae, they were mixed into the animal diet at 1%. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the algae was studied. 45 adult female rats were classified into 3 groups (G1, G2, and G3) where each group had 15 rats in number. The first group ate a control basal diet (CD), the second group received CD mixed with SP, and G3 received CD mixed with CV. After 20 days of supplementation, animals were infected with an intravaginal injection of a pathogenic strain of E. coli O157 to induce endometritis. Vaginal swabs were collected for colony count estimation and to monitor recovery rate. Heparinized blood samples were collected for analysis of plasma chemistry. Samples of the uterus and spleen were taken for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis.

SP and CV exhibit strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, and a high rate of uterine clearance, as indicated by downregulation of target cytokine genes used as indicators of the inflammatory process. Significant elevation in plasma cytokines (TNF-α, INFγ, IL1β), especially those administered SP and CV. Group treated with Microalgae showed a high recovery rate, including increased mature ovarian follicles, few follicular cysts, and moderate infiltration of endometrial inflammatory cells.

The study paved the way for the prospective pharmaceutical use of microalgae as an antibiotic replacement therapy or for the extraction of active antimicrobial components.