Conjunctivitis Associated with Chlamydial Polyarthritis in Lambs

Abstract

SUMMARY Clinical signs and other diagnostic features of chlamydial conjunctivitis of feedlot lambs were studied. Chlamydial conjunctivitis occurred in early, intermediate, advanced, and complicated stages of involvement of the eyes and associated tissues. The clinical signs consisted of epiphora, conjunctival hyperemia, follicular hyperplasia, corneal edema, vascularization, pannus formation, keratitis, and enlargement of parotid lymph nodes. Signs were observed bilaterally in 80% of lambs examined. Some of the lambs with conjunctivitis also had polyarthritis. Exfoliate cytologic techniques indicated inflammatory cellular responses in infected eyes. Numerous neutrophilic leukocytes, some lymphocytes, and plasma cells were present. Examination of conjunctival scrapings from affected eyes revealed epithelial cells being shed singly or in groups of 2 or 3; some contained chlamydial inclusions. Epithelial cells from conjunctival scrapings of normal eyes maintained intercellular bridges and were present in sheets of several cells. Chlamydiae were isolated from conjunctival scrapings of 42% of lambs affected with these eye lesions. Because of the clinical association of articular and conjunctival involvement, it was concluded that chlamydial conjunctivitis in lambs may be an early sign of a developing epizootic of polyarthritis.