Chlamydial infections in animals
Chlamydophila abortus in ruminants: Introduction
and History
Chlamydophila abortus (formerly contained within the Chlamydia psittaci
taxon) is a cause of abortion and foetal loss in sheep, cattle and goats in many countries around the world. Infection with strains of this microorganism has also been associated with abortion and other clinical symptoms in humans. Abortion isolates from sheep have produced abortion and mastitis in cattle, and pneumonia in pigeons, turkeys and sparrows. In addition, chlamydial isolates excreted in sheep and cattle faeces have also caused abortion in both of those ruminant species.
The first report of enzootic
abortion in sheep was a description of the disease in Scotland by
Grieg in 1936. The aetiological agent was identified later by
Stamp et al. (1950). Subsequently, chlamydial abortion in sheep,
[also known as ovine enzootic abortion
(OEA) or enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE)], has been recognised as one of the most important causes of abortion in sheep. The disease has been found in many countries around the world involved in sheep-rearing, ranging from Europe to Africa and North America
(Storz, 1971). Although antibodies to chlamydiae have been detected
(Dane and Clapp, 1956), chlamydial abortion in sheep in Australia has not been reported.
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