Isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from cases of conjunctivitis in a colony of cats
Wills, J.; Gruffydd-Jones, T.J.; Richmond, S.; Paul, I.D.
Veterinary Record 114(14): 344-346
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6719790 Document Number: 240231
A problem of recurrent mucopurulent conjunctivitis affecting only the kittens in a breeding cat colony was investigated. Other symptoms included occasional sneezing, snuffly breathing, and lingual ulcer. One adult female aborted twice and failed to conceive twice. C. psittaci was isolated in cell culture from ocular swabs and identified by indirect immunofluorescence. Specific antibodies were detected in serum samples from kittens and breeding animals by indirect immunofluorescence. As the kittens were reared in isolation by their mothers, it is considered that the latter were the source of infection. Feline calicivirus was also present, but was isolated only intermittently from the oropharynx. The condition responded to tetracycline eye ointment. The recovery of C. psittaci from the genital tract of a female cat in another colony is reported.