Chlamydial infections in animals
Chlamydophila felis : Clinical
signs in cats
C. felis infection is characterised by fever, anorexia, depression, sneezing and coughing, and
occasionly, pneumonia. There is a serous discharge from the eyes and nostrils,
initially mucoid but subsequently mucopurulent (Baker,
1944; Cello, 1967;
McDonald et al., 1998), Infection of the cat eye is
often unilateral; the opposite eye becoming involved in 5-7 days. Chemosis
 is common, but the cornea is not involved
(Shewen et al., 1978). Clinical disease persists for about 2 weeks in untreated cats. Recovery, which begins 2-4 weeks after infection, can be very slow in untreated
animals; weight loss is usually seen. However, cats frequently remain asymptomatic carriers, and periodic recurrences of disease can occur, affecting cats of all ages. The disease is not usually fatal, but very young or elderly cats may
rarely die of severe pneumonia (Storz,
1988).
Cats may remain affected with conjunctivitis
for as long as one
year, developing chronic follicular and or papillary conjunctivitis.
Occasionally there may be scarring of the conjunctiva and pannus
formation
(Darougar et al., 1977). This condition is analogous to C. trachomatis ocular infection in
humans [see trachoma]. Kittens born to affected or clinically recovered queens may have severe conjunctivitis at the time their eyelids normally open.
Infections of the gastric mucosa have also been detected. Most cats with persistent gastric infection appeared clinically normal.
Gastritis, although usually mild, is considered a clinical manifestation of C. felis infection in cats
(Hargis, 1983; Gaillard et al.,
1984).
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