title: Spontaneous and experimental infections of Xenopus laevis with Chlamydia psittaci.
abstract: Chlamydial infection was suspected when widespread pyogranulomatous inflammation and large basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were evident histopathologically in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) dying of a spontaneous disease of high morbidity and mortality. Organism morphology was determined by electron microscopy of infected hepatic sinusoidal lining cells, and it was characteristic of the unique developmental cycle of a chlamydial agent. Isolation and speciation of the organism was achieved in a McCoy cell culture system. The infected cells were inoculated into disease-free frogs reproducing the disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D014982:Xenopus laevis