Salmonella Enteritidis foodborne infection induces altered placental morphometrics in the murine model

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) 2021-06, Vol.109, p.11-18
• Main Authors: Betancourt, Diana M., Llana, Mariángeles Noto, Sarnacki, Sebastián H., Cerquetti, M. Cristina, Monzalve, Liliana Salazar, Pustovrh, María C., Giacomodonato, Mónica N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chorioamnionitis - microbiology; Chorioamnionitis - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - etiology; Fetal Growth Retardation - pathology; Foodborne diseases; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Placenta; Placenta - microbiology; Placenta - pathology; Placenta Diseases - microbiology; Placenta Diseases - pathology; Placental morphometry; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - microbiology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - pathology; Salmonella Enteritidis; Salmonella enteritidis - physiology; Salmonella Food Poisoning - complications; Salmonella Food Poisoning - pathology; Salmonella Infections - complications; Salmonella Infections - pathology; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - complications; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - microbiology; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - pathology
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.04.004

Salmonella foodborne disease during pregnancy causes a significant fetal loss in domestic livestock and preterm birth, chorioamnionitis and miscarriage in humans. These complications could be associated with alterations in placental structure. This study was aimed to determine how a low dose of Salmonella Enteritidis during late gestation affects placental histomorphometric in mice. We used a self-limiting enterocolitis murine model. BALB/c pregnant animals received a low dose of Salmonella Enteritidis (3–4 x 102 CFU/mouse) on gestational day (GD) 15. At day 3 post infection bacterial loads, serum cytokines expression and placental histomorphometrics parameters were analyzed. We found that a sub-lethal infection with Salmonella induced a significant drop in fetal weight -to-placental weight-ratio and an increase in the placental coefficient. After bacterial inoculation maternal organs were colonized, inducing placental morphometric alterations, including increased placental thickness, reduced surface area, and diminished major and minor diameters. Also, foci of necrosis accompanied by acute leukocyte infiltration in decidual zone, reduction of vascular spaces and vascular congestion in labyrinth zone, were also evident in placentas from infected females on GD 18. Our data shows that placentas from infected mothers are phenotypically different from control ones. Furthermore, expression of IFN-gamma and IL-6 was up regulated in response to Salmonella in maternal serum. Our findings demonstrate that a low dose of Salmonella during late gestation alters the placental morphometry leading to negative consequences on pregnancy outcome such as significant reduction in fetal body weight. •Salmonella foodborne disease induces systemic infection in pregnant hosts.•Low doses of Salmonella Enteritidis alter placental morphometrics.•Salmonella infection induces placental vascular space impairment.•Salmonella infection induces vascular congestion.