Chlamydial infections in animals
Neochlamydia hartmanellae : ocular disease
in cats
In an investigation of ocular disease in cats, DNA was extracted from 226
conjunctival samples from cats with clinically diagnosed keratitis or
conjunctivitis and from 30 healthy cats. PCR for the 16S rRNA gene specific
for the order Chlamydiales plus a species-specific PCR for the known
chlamydial agent of feline keratoconjunctivitis, Chlamydophila felis
(based on 23S rRNA gene) were performed. Seventy-four conjunctival samples
were prepared with Romanowsky-type stain, grouped on the basis of
inflammatory pattern, and screened for chlamydial inclusions by
immunohistology. Clinical information and feline herpes virus-1 status were
also recorded. Not surprisingly, 26 (12%) specimens were positive for
Chlamydophila felis. However, quite unexpectedly, a further 88 (39%)
were positive for chlamydial DNA which was not Chlamydophila felis.
16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the unknown DNA was 99% homologous to
the comparable sequence for N. hartmannellae. As would be expected,
chlamydial prevalence was significantly higher in cats with ocular disease.
Although Koch's postulates have yet to be fully satisfied, these results
suggest that N. hartmanellae may be a significant cause of ocular
disease in cats [von Bomard et al., 2003].
See also:
Neochlamydia
[MEW March 31st 2008]
Reference
von Bomhard, W., Polkinghorne, A., Lu, Z. H., Vaughan, L., Vogtlin, A.,
Zimmermann, D. R., Spiess, B. & Pospischil, A. (2003):
Detection of novel
chlamydiae in cats with ocular disease. Am J Vet Res 64,
1421-8
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