Experimental chlamydial pneumonia in pigs

Naturally occurring disease in pigs associated with chlamydial infections has not been reported in Britain, though evidence of chlamydial challenge has been demonstrated in two separate serological surveys. An isolate of Chlamydia psittaci (28/68) from an ovine pneumonia produced pneumonia in pigs following intratracheal inoculation. Transient pyrexia at 24 hr was followed by increased respiratory rates and inappetance which lasted for a further 48 hr in challenged pigs. Histologically acute exudative reactions were present in the lungs by 24 hr with proliferative changes predominating after 10 days. While variations in the concentrations of inocula were reflected by corresponding increases and/or decreases in gross lung damage, clinical signs and histological reactions were unaltered. Chlamydial organisms were recovered only from lung tissues.