Attempted venereal transmission of Chlamydia psittaci in sheep. 1985

W T Appleyard, and I D Aitken, and I E Anderson

Attempts were made to transmit Chlamydia psittaci, the causal agent of enzootic abortion of ewes, in three different ways. Ten ewes were inseminated artificially with freshly collected semen containing 10(5) CELD50 chlamydia. Serological evidence of infection was found two weeks before parturition in nine ewes and the organism was recovered from three of them. By six weeks post partum antibody titres had fallen and were negative in six ewes. Twenty-four hours after service two groups of 10 ewes were infected intravaginally with 10(8) CELD50 and 10(3) CELD50 chlamydia respectively. Positive complement fixation titres were present in the first half of pregnancy in all the ewes in the high dose group but not the low dose group. None of the ewes showed evidence of infection at parturition. Fourteen ewes were served by four rams which had been intravenously infected with 10(8) CELD50 chlamydia four to six days earlier. Following service seroconversion occurred but titres became negative again by late pregnancy. No microbiological evidence of infection was detected in any of the ewes at parturition but complement fixation titres were positive in 12 of 14 ewes sampled six weeks post partum. The 14 ewes were sampled during their pregnancies the next year and none showed any evidence of chlamydial infection. It is concluded that venereal transmission of C psittaci is biologically feasible in sheep, but that under normal systems of flock management in Britain it is unlikely to contribute greatly to the epidemiology of enzootic abortion of ewes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009956 Psittacosis Infection with CHLAMYDOPHILA PSITTACI (formerly Chlamydia psittaci), transmitted to humans by inhalation of dust-borne contaminated nasal secretions or excreta of infected BIRDS. This infection results in a febrile illness characterized by PNEUMONITIS and systemic manifestations. Ornithosis,Ornithoses,Psittacoses
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002691 Chlamydophila psittaci A genus of CHLAMYDOPHILA infecting primarily birds. It contains eight known serovars, some of which infect more than one type of host, including humans. Chlamydia psittaci
D003168 Complement Fixation Tests Serologic tests based on inactivation of complement by the antigen-antibody complex (stage 1). Binding of free complement can be visualized by addition of a second antigen-antibody system such as red cells and appropriate red cell antibody (hemolysin) requiring complement for its completion (stage 2). Failure of the red cells to lyse indicates that a specific antigen-antibody reaction has taken place in stage 1. If red cells lyse, free complement is present indicating no antigen-antibody reaction occurred in stage 1. Complement Absorption Test, Conglutinating,Conglutination Reaction,Conglutinating Complement Absorption Test,Complement Fixation Test,Conglutination Reactions,Fixation Test, Complement,Fixation Tests, Complement,Reaction, Conglutination,Reactions, Conglutination,Test, Complement Fixation,Tests, Complement Fixation
D005260 Female Females
D000031 Abortion, Septic Any type of abortion, induced or spontaneous, that is associated with infection of the UTERUS and its appendages. It is characterized by FEVER, uterine tenderness, and foul discharge. Septic Abortion,Abortions, Septic,Septic Abortions
D000034 Abortion, Veterinary Premature expulsion of the FETUS in animals. Veterinary Abortion,Abortions, Veterinary,Veterinary Abortions
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000907 Antibodies, Bacterial Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS. Bacterial Antibodies

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