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Ocular chlamydial zoonosis: an experimental study in monkeys
1Department of Veterinary Bacteriology and Virology, College of Veterinary Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Ocular Chlamydia psittaci strains from sheep and cattle can infect monkey eyes, causing trachoma-like follicles. These findings suggest a potential risk for human eye infections from these animal strains.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Primate Research
Background:
- Chlamydia psittaci is an important veterinary pathogen.
- Ocular infections in animals can cause significant disease.
- The potential for zoonotic transmission of C. psittaci to the human eye requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the ocular pathogenicity of two Chlamydia psittaci strains isolated from sheep and cattle in Rhesus monkeys.
- To assess the correlation between clinical signs and laboratory findings in experimentally infected monkeys.
- To determine the potential for C. psittaci to infect primate ocular tissues.
Main Methods:
- Two C. psittaci strains (from sheep feces and heifer conjunctiva) were instilled into the eyes of 7 Rhesus monkeys.
- Animals were monitored for 8 weeks for clinical signs and laboratory evidence of infection.
- Reisolation of the bacteria, fluorescent antibody testing, cytology, and complement fixation antibody titers were performed.
Main Results:
- Both C. psittaci strains induced trachoma-like follicles in the lower conjunctiva of Rhesus monkeys within 2-4 weeks post-infection.
- Pannus formation was not observed in any experimental eyes.
- Good correlation was found between bacterial reisolation, fluorescent antibody test, and cytology between 2-4 weeks post-infection.
- A maximum complement fixing antibody titer of 1:32 was recorded in 4 out of 7 animals.
Conclusions:
- Locally isolated Chlamydia psittaci strains from sheep and cattle can infect primate ocular tissues.
- The experimental model demonstrated the potential for C. psittaci to cause conjunctivitis in monkeys, similar to human trachoma.
- These findings highlight the lack of a species barrier for ocular C. psittaci infection in monkeys, suggesting a potential risk for human conjunctival infection.