[Bacteriologic studies of aborted sheep fetuses with special reference to chlamydiae]

A total of 467 tissue specimens recovered from 165 aborted ovine fetuses were examined for chlamydiae microscopically and by means of cell culture. Chlamydiae were detected by microscope in 34 fetuses (20.6%) and by cell culture in 60 fetuses (36.4%). Of the 467 tissue specimens, 51 (10.9%) were microscopically positive, whereas chlamydiae were recovered from 181 specimens (38.8%) using the routine method of BGM cell culture. A total of 87 specimens of fetal organs was tested by the BGM cell culture technique and simultaneously by an enzyme amplified immunoassay to detect chlamydial antigen. Although not as sensitive as cell culture isolation, the ELISA has the advantage of rapidity and of detecting antigen from non-viable chlamydiae in sheep abortion material.