Chlamydia felis: Lack of association between clinical signs and the presence of the cryptic plasmid. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gonsales, F.F.; Brandão, P.E.; Melville, P.A.; Zuniga, E.; Benites, N.R.
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 97(2016)
• Page Start: 14
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Feline -- Chlamydia felis -- Shelter -- Upper respiratory tract disease -- Cryptic plasmid; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.05.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Chlamydia felis is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that infects cats, causing severe conjunctivitis associated with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD). In the present study, 186 cats from three non-commercial catteries in São Paulo, SP, Brazil were evaluated. The detection of Chlamydia felis was performed by PCR. The clinical severity was scored from 1 to 4, with a score of 4 as the most severe manifestation. The total occurrence of C. felis was of 18.82% (35/186) of cats overall, but notably, 58.06% (18/31) of infected cats originated from a single cattery. All animals harboring C. felis had URTD clinical signs and higher scores (3 and 4). In addition, C. felis occurrence was associated with the presence of cryptic plasmid. However, the virulence and clinical severity were not correlated. Highlights: Different rates of C. felis were detected in different sanitary conditions. The worst clinical symptoms showed in the shelters with bad sanitary conditions. The animals with C. felis was detected showed the more severe URTD clinical signs. C. felis occurrence was associated with the presence of cryptic plasmid. Virulence and clinical severity were not correlated with cryptic plasmid.