Isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from genitalia of healthy exotic and crossbred service rams

Abstract

Total number of280 (121 semen samples, 128 preputial washings and 31 genital organ tissue) samples were processed for the isolation of chlamydial organisms using 7-day-old embryonated hen's eggs. The chlamydial organisms were isolated at the rate of 3.3% from semen samples and 1.56 % from preputial washings whereas no isolate were acquired from tissues of male genitalia collected from postmortem cases. All isolates were lethal to chick embryos and showed characteristic elementary bodies in the impression smears of yolk sac membranes. 'Inoculation of isolates in guinea pigs revealed the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions in the mononuclear cells of spleen and biphasic rise in body temperature. Higher isolation rate among crossbred rams could be due to the intermixing and contact of these animals with other clinical conditions of chlamydial infections in their past history of life at farm. Present positivity rate of chlamydial infection among service rams is endangering and efforts should be made for culling of these rams.