Case Report

Chlamydia-induced septic polyarthritis in a dog : case report

N. Lambrechts, J. Picard, R.C. Tustin
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 70, No 1 | a749 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v70i1.749 | © 1999 N. Lambrechts, J. Picard, R.C. Tustin | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 July 1999 | Published: 12 July 1999

About the author(s)

N. Lambrechts,
J. Picard,
R.C. Tustin,

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Abstract

A systemic disease associated with pyrexia, lymphadenopathy, and arthropathy of several joints of the appendicular skeleton in a dog is described. Chlamydia-like organisms were detected on light-microscopic examination of a smear made from joint fluid aspirated from one of the affected joints. A group-specific lipopolysaccharide antigen shared by all Chlamydia spp. was demonstrated by direct fluorescent antibody staining of joint fluid, which also proved positive for chlamydia by means of the relevant polymerase chain reaction test. An indirect fluorescent antibody test on serumwas also positive, although the complement fixation test was negative. Attempts to grow the organism from joint aspirates in the yolk sac of embryonating hens' eggs and on appropriate tissue cultures, however, failed. Chlamydia spp. are considered to have played an aetiological role in this case, making it the first substantiated case of naturally-occurring arthropathy in a dog due to chlamydiosis. The origin of the infection could not be traced.

Keywords

Chlamydia; Septic Arthritis

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