Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chlamydial eye infections and symptoms in cats explained
By Sykes, Jane E·Published in Clinical techniques in small animal practice·2005·American College of Internal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Feline chlamydiosis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye) may have been diagnosed with chlamydiosis, a common infection caused by Chlamydophila felis. This condition can lead to symptoms like redness, swelling, and discharge from the eyes. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, with doxycycline being the most effective option. It's important to treat all cats in the household at the same time to prevent spreading the infection. With proper treatment, affected cats usually recover well.
People also search for: cat eye infection treatment · chlamydiosis in cats · doxycycline for cat conjunctivitis · why is my cat's eye red · cat conjunctivitis symptoms
Abstract
Chlamydiae are an important cause of acute and chronic conjunctivitis in cats. Until recently, only one organism was thought to infect cats, Chlamydophila felis (previously Chlamydia psittaci var. felis). Recently, other Chlamydia-like organisms belonging to the family Parachlamydiaceae, which comprises organisms that reside and proliferate within free-living amoeba, have been identified in cats with neutrophilic and eosinophilic conjunctivitis. The relative importance of these organisms and their amoebic hosts requires investigation. There is also weak evidence that chlamydiae may also be capable of causing reproductive tract disease and lameness in cats. Diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis requires use of specialized culture techniques or the polymerase chain reaction. The antibiotic of choice to treat these infections is doxycycline; azithromycin is less effective. All cats in the household should be treated simultaneously. The zoonotic potential of these organisms appears low, but some precaution is warranted when handling affected cats.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15948428/