Immuno-histochemical Demonstration of the Role of Chlamydiaceae in Renal, Uterine and Salpingeal Disease of the Koala, and Demonstration of Chlamydiaceae in Novel Sites

Numerous bacteria, including Chlamydophila pecorum and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, are known to occur in diseased sites in koalas. In the present study the significance of such organisms was investigated by demonstrating their distribution in situ, in tissues collected opportunistically from wild koal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of comparative pathology 2005-08, Vol.133 (2), p.164-174
Main Authors:	Higgins, D.P., Hemsley, S., Canfield, P.J.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Animal Diseases - microbiology Animal Diseases - pathology Animals Animals, Wild Antigens, Bacterial - analysis bacterial infection Chlamydia Chlamydiaceae - immunology Chlamydiaceae - isolation & purification Chlamydiaceae Infections - microbiology Chlamydiaceae Infections - pathology Chlamydiaceae Infections - veterinary Chlamydophila Female Immunoenzyme Techniques - methods Immunoenzyme Techniques - veterinary Kidney Diseases - microbiology Kidney Diseases - pathology Kidney Diseases - veterinary koala macrophage Macrophages - microbiology Macrophages - pathology Male metritis Phascolarctidae Phascolarctos cinereus pneumonitis pyelonephritis salpingitis Salpingitis - microbiology Salpingitis - pathology Salpingitis - veterinary Uterine Diseases - microbiology Uterine Diseases - pathology Uterine Diseases - veterinary
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Summary:	Numerous bacteria, including Chlamydophila pecorum and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, are known to occur in diseased sites in koalas. In the present study the significance of such organisms was investigated by demonstrating their distribution in situ, in tissues collected opportunistically from wild koalas. Chlamydiaceae were demonstrated in epithelial cells and macrophages in association with pyogranulomatous pyelonephritis (8/11 kidneys), focal interstitial nephritis (3/21), and active inflammation and fibrosis of the entire upper female reproductive tract (10/10). In one case of pyelonephritis, Gram-positive cocci were also demonstrated in association with Chlamydiaceae and, in another, haematogenous filamentous bacteria appeared to be the sole aetiological agent. Three cases of chlamydial metritis were also superficially co-infected by a mixture of other bacteria. Chlamydiaceae were also demonstrated in pulmonary alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells in association with pneumonitis, and in hepatic and splenic macrophages in one koala. The study illustrated the prominent role of Chlamydiaceae in renal disease and disease of the uterus, uterine tube and ovarian bursa, with implications for pathogenesis and therapy. In addition, macrophages appeared to be a potential site of latent persistence from which systemic spread of infection might occur.
ISSN:	0021-9975 1532-3129