Which cats are most often affected?
Chlamydophila is found in around 30% of cats with chronic conjunctivitis. It is especially common in kittens aged 2–6 months from animal shelters.
Signs
Clinical signs usually appear a few days after infection. At first there is a watery discharge from one or both eyes, and the cat may squint because of the discomfort. As the disease progresses:
- the eyelids swell;
- the conjunctiva turns red;
- the discharge changes from watery to thick, yellowish and purulent.
The infection can also cause nasal discharge, mild sneezing, fever, lethargy and pneumonia. Without treatment it tends to become chronic and last for weeks or months. Chlamydophila can cause chronic inflammation of the oviducts and infertility.
The cause and how it spreads
Chlamydophila felis is a Gram-negative bacterium that lives inside cells. It multiplies in the cells lining the airways and irritates them, which causes the signs. The bacteria can also multiply in the lining of the digestive tract or reproductive organs, but there they usually cause no signs or only local ones.
The bacteria are spread in discharge from the upper airways:
- via contaminated surfaces such as cages, food and water bowls and clothing;
- through contact with an infected cat's mouth, nose or eye discharge;
- sexually;
- across the placenta to kittens.
Male cats that carry the infection have no clinical signs but can spread the bacteria in eye discharge and through mating.
Diagnosis and treatment
At the clinic, rapid tests are used to diagnose chlamydiosis. Chlamydophila is treated with systemic antibiotics together with eye drops.
Vaccination
Cats can be vaccinated against chlamydophila. The vaccine does not always prevent infection, but it does help avoid a severe course of the disease.
At the clinic you can have your cat vaccinated with Purevax. It builds immunity not only to chlamydophila but also to feline infectious rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and leukaemia. Cats are vaccinated from 8 weeks of age.
Chlamydiosis in dogs and people
In dogs, chlamydiosis can be acute, subacute or chronic. It most often shows up as keratitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Other typical signs include:
- fever with bronchopneumonia;
- coughing;
- tiredness;
- loss of appetite (anorexia);
- vomiting and diarrhoea;
- neurological signs.
People can catch the disease from bird droppings.
