Chlamydiaceae

Question 1

What are the 2 forms of Chlamydiaceae? Which one is infective and which one is non-infective?

Answer 1

Infective elementary body (infective) and metabolically active reticulate body (non-infective)

Question 2

What are the four zoonotic species of Chlamydophila? Which one is reportable?

Answer 2

Chlamydophila abortus 
Chlamydophila felis
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Chlamydophila psittaci (REPORTABLE!)

Question 3

How is Chlamydiaceae transmitted to humans? animals?

Answer 3

Humans: ingestion, aerosol, direct inoculation (eye), venereal (possibly)
Animals: C. abortus - shed in placenta, uterine discharge, ingestion, aerosol, venereal; C. felis - shed in ocular and nasal secretions; C. pneumoniae - unknown (may be aerosol)

Question 4

T/F. Chlamydia spp. and Chlamydophila spp. are opportunistic intracellular bacteria.

Answer 4

False.

OBLIGATE intracellular bacteria.

Question 5

What are the symptoms in humans that are affected by Chlamydophila abortus?

Answer 5

Initial signs: influenza-like illness
(rare) Abortion
(rare but severe) Septicemia, hepatitis, kidney dysfunction, pneumonia, DIC.

Question 6

What are the symptoms in sheep, goats, cattle that are affected by Chlamydophila abortus? What is seen in necropsy?

Answer 6

Enzootic abortion, still birth, weak/low birth weight lambs but Mom is healthy.
May be asymptomatic.
Males can be affected experimentally (reproductive disease).
Necropsy: placentitis (necrotic cotyledons), normal fetus, petechiae.

Question 7

What are the symptoms in humans that are affected by Chlamydophila penumoniae?

Answer 7

Fever, cough, penumonia, arthritis, ocular disease, genital and skin infection.

Question 8

What are the symptoms in koalas and horses that are affected by Chlamydophila penumoniae?

Answer 8

Koalas: asymptomatic; respiratory disease.
Horses: asymptomatic.

Question 9

What can you see in cats and iguanas that are affected by Chlamydophila felis? What can you see in necropsy?

Answer 9

Cats: conjuctivitis, blepharospasm (forced blinking), congestion, ocular discharge.
Cats and iguanas: rhinitis, pneumonitis.
Necropsy: conjuctivitis, rhinitis.

Question 10

Which animal species are affected by C. abortus, C. felis, and C. pneumoniae?

Answer 10

Reptile and amphibians

Question 11

What are the symptoms that you see in reptiles and amphibians that are affected by Chlamydophila spp.?

Answer 11

Lethargy, anorexia, suppurative pneumonia, nephritis, hepatitis; a high mortality rate

Question 12

Which of the following is INCORRECT about Chlamydophila psittaci in avian?

A. Obligate intracellular bacteria
B. Used as Bio-weapon (easily obtained, aerosolized, stable in the environment).
C. Resistant to drying (remains infectious).
D. Can be diagnosed with a single test.

Answer 12

D. Can be diagnosed with a single test.

DIAGNOSIS IS DIFFICULT! (single test is not adequate).

Question 13

How is Chlamydophila psittaci transmitted?

Answer 13

Inhalation (dried droppings, dust from feathers)
Mouth to beak
Direct contact (handling or tissues of infected animals)
Person to person (may be venereal transmission)

Question 14

Which of the following is INCORRECTLY matched?

A. Psittacosis - infection in humans
B. Ornithosis - infection in in birds other than psittacines
C. Parrot Fever - infections in humans
D. Avian Chlamydiosis - Carriers are healthy, shedding by stress and greatest in young birds.

Answer 14

A. Psittacosis - infection in humans

Psittacosis: infection in psittacines.