Animal models for genital tract infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum

Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) is a common pathogen of genital tract infection,and can cause pelvic inflammatory diseases,adverse pregnancy outcomes,non-gonococcal urethritis,epididymitis,and so on.Uu is classified into 2 biovars and 14 serotypes,while the difference in pathogenicity among these serotypes remains unanswered.Animal models have been built for intrauterine infection and lower genital tract infection in mice,chimpanzee,goats,etc.It has been found that Uu infection can cause an increase in multiple cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6,as well as different degrees of inflammatory infiltration and degeneration in endometrium and spermary.The incidence and duration of Uu infection vary with anatomical sites. Key words: Ureaplasma urealyticum;  Ureaplasma infections;  Models, animal