title: Detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in cats with conjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence of chlamydial species including recently described chlamydial agents as well as the human pathogen Chlamydophila pneumoniae in feline conjunctivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five cats without and 49 cats with conjunctivitis were tested for chlamydia using a Chlamydiaceae real time (RT) PCR (targeting the 23S rRNA gene sequence), a Chlamydiales PCR (targeting the 16S rRNA gene sequence), and cell culture. The PCR products of all positive samples were sequenced and subsequently analyzed using a basic local alignment search tool search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chlamydiaceae RT PCR and subsequent sequence analyses identified C. pneumoniae in five cats in the conjunctivitis group. The presence of Chlamydophila felis was shown in two cats with conjunctivitis. Chlamydiae related to uncultured members of Chlamydiales were detected in three conjunctivitis cases and in one cat without clinical symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study detects for the first time, the known human pathogen C. pneumoniae in feline conjunctivitis cases using Chlamydiaceae RT PCR and sequence analyses.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Surgery and Ophthalmology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria. christina.sibitz@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sibitz
authors.forename: Elisabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Rudnay
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wabnegger
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spergser
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apfalter
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000235:genetics; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary