title: Shedding of chlamydiae in relation to titers of serum chlamydiae-specific antibodies and serum concentrations of two acute-phase proteins in cats without conjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate shedding of chlamydiae from conjunctiva and genital tracts of cats without clinical signs of conjunctivitis or other infectious disease in relation to their titers of serum antibodies against chlamydiae and to serum amyloid A (SAA) and serum α(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  62 healthy cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum from each cat was analyzed for antibodies against chlamydiae and for SAA and AGP concentrations. Swab samples from the conjunctival sac and genital tract were analyzed with a real-time PCR assay for Chlamydiaceae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4 of 8 of cats with high antibody titers (ie, 1,600) shed chlamydiae, but only from the conjunctiva. Chlamydiae could not be detected in samples from cats with lower antibody titers nor from any genital tract samples. In cats with antibody titers of 1,600, mean ± SD SAA concentration was significantly higher when chlamydiae were detected in conjunctival swab samples (3.9 ± 1.0 mg/L) than when no chlamydiae were detected (1.4 ± 1.0 mg/L). However, SAA concentration was greater than the limit for an acute-phase response in only one of those cats. There was no significant difference in serum AGP concentrations between cats with high titers that were or were not shedding chlamydiae. Nine of 30 (30%) cats (5 with and 4 without detectable serum antibodies against chlamydiae) that had been mated developed reproductive disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically normal cats with high chlamydiae-specific antibody titers can shed and thus transmit chlamydiae. Venereal spread from cats without clinical signs of infection is likely not common.
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden. Bodil.Strom-Holst@slu.se
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ström Holst
authors.forename: Linnéa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krook
authors.forename: Stina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Englund
authors.forename: Anne-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lagerstedt
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bölske
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002415:Cats; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D010413:Penis / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein