Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chlamydia infection causing joint swelling in a dog
By Lambrechts, N et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·1999·Department of Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Chlamydia-induced septic polyarthritis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with fever, swollen lymph nodes, and painful joints was diagnosed with a rare infection caused by Chlamydia. Tests on joint fluid confirmed the presence of Chlamydia-like organisms, which led to the diagnosis of septic polyarthritis. Unfortunately, attempts to grow the bacteria in a lab were unsuccessful, and the source of the infection remains unknown. This case highlights a unique instance of joint disease in dogs linked to Chlamydia, which is not commonly seen.
People also search for: dog fever swollen lymph nodes · dog joint pain Chlamydia · septic arthritis treatment in dogs
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 serum was 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10855822/