Canis ISSN: 2398-2942
Chlamydia psittaci
Synonym(s): C. psittaci
Contributor(s): Melissa Kennedy
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Order: Chlamydiales.
- Family: Chlamydiaceae.
- Genus: Chlamydia.
Etymology
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Clinical Effects
Epidemiology
Transmission
- Inhalation or ingestion of infectious material, eg respiratory discharges and feces.
- Vertical transmission via the egg occurs in some birds.
Pathological effects
- Presenting condition and severity of disease related to immunological state of the host animal.
- Often partial immune response → chronic relapsing infection.
- Pathogenicity related to age, sex and health of host animal; route of infection; infective dose; strain and virulence of organism.
- In birds: causes pneumonia, pericarditis, diarrhea, encephalitis, conjunctivitis.
- In mammals: causes enzootic abortion of ewes, abortion of cows, genital infections, mastitis, intestinal infection and diarrhea, pneumonia, arthritis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis.
- In humans: causes pneumonia, psittacosis/ornithosis, abortion, conjunctivitis.
- Cats: respiratory disease; mainly persistent conjunctivitis.
Other Host Effects
- The gastrointestinal tract is the natural habitat in both mammals and birds.
- Inapparent infections may occur with prolonged fecal shedding.
- Psittacosis (infection due to C. psittaci in psittacine birds) and ornithosis (infection due to C. psittaci in non-psittacine birds) may result in a carrier state after recovery, and stress may cause recurrence.
Control
Control via chemotherapies
Control via environment
- Zoonotic risk; pregnant women should avoid contact with lambing sheep.
Vaccination
- Killed and live attenuated vaccines available for cats.
- Live attenuated vaccines for sheep.
Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers