[The specific features of a structural lesion in the ocular posterior segment in experimental chlamydial infection]

The investigation was undertaken to study changes in the structure of the vitreoretinal complex in experimental chlamydial infection. Six rabbits were inoculated with Ch. pneumonia (6 eyes) and Ch. trachomatis (6 eyes) via instillations, subconjunctivally and intravitreally. Clinical and pathomorphological study was conducted during 128 days, by using immunohistochemical techniques. All modes of inoculation resulted in the development of an intraocular infectious process as uveitis, choriorenitis, and vitreitis (endophthalmitis) of varying degrees--from subclinical to severe. Immunohistochemical study revealed the pathogen in the structures of the ocular posterior segment and in venous blood in all cases. When locally inoculated, chlamydial infection becomes disseminated, by afflicting the ocular posterior segment, no matter what the mode of inoculation is applied. The clinical picture of the lesion widely varies from subclinical manifestations to a severe process.