Chlamydia infections in swine. 2. Pathologic-histological peculiarities of experimental Chlamydia pneumonia in swine
Martin, J.; Kielstein, P.; Stellmacher, H.; Horsch, F.
Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 37(6): 939-949
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9055 PMID: 6670910 Document Number: 211544
Eight C. psittaci strains, which had been isolated from pigs, cattle and sheep [see VB 53, abst 7059] and undergone between 7 and 32 passages in embryonated eggs, were inoculated intratracheally into 76 SPF miniature piglets aged 4-6 weeks. Each piglet received 1 ml of a 10% suspension of egg yolk culture. Surviving piglets were killed after 8-27 days. Grossly there was a wide spectrum of pneumonic lesions, depending on the strain, number of egg passages and susceptibility of the individual piglet. Pulmonary lymph nodes were affected only in animals with extensive lung lesions. Histologically there were different degrees of interstitial pneumonia, with low granulocyte participation, and capillary hyperaemia progressing to complete induration of the lobuli and formation by coalescence of large pneumonic areas, with bronchi free from exudate. The causal agent could be identified in histological sections. In the discussion on differential diagnosis, it is pointed out that most natural infections would be complicated by secondary invaders.