The eyes of a kitten or cat are festering, or How to cure chlamydia, chlamydal conjunctivitis and microplasmosis in a cat

The causative agent of chlamydia in cats

Microorganisms that cause zooanthroponotic (common to humans and animals) chlamydia in cats are called chlamydia. These are small intracellular parasites that are something between a bacterium and a virus. This is due to the peculiarities of their structure and complex life cycle:

1. Outside the cells, microbes are in the state of an elementary body. They have a spherical membrane with genetic information located inside. This is necessary for the spread of infection within the body.
2. Reticular bodies formed when the parasite enters develop and divide. The pathogen does not show increased activity, so it goes undetected by the immune system for some time.
3. Intermediate bodies acquire the characteristic features of elementary and reticular viral parasites.

There are different types of these pathogens; for cats, the most dangerous forms are chlamydophila felis, which reproduce by division within the body.

Peak activity of chlamydia in cats is demonstrated by inflammatory conjunctivitis. And if the immune system is severely weakened, then there will be a high risk of developing complications in the form of respiratory ailments. There is no urogenital subtype of the virus for cats, but bacteria can often be found in the urinary system or intestines.

Various studies by scientists have found that about 30-60% of domestic animals are carriers of a pathogenic microorganism throughout their lives, but only a few get sick. In most cases, we can talk about an asymptomatic form. However, the absence of any signs of illness does not mean that the animal is safe.

Chlamydia in cats is not dangerous for people. A similar disease in humans is caused by another type of parasite – chlamydia trachomatis, which is transmitted exclusively through sexual contact. This form has nothing to do with the pathogen in cats. And myths about infertility or miscarriages caused by infection from a mustachioed friend are pseudo-scientific horror stories. The only trouble with this disease for a person is conjunctivitis, which can disappear without a trace in a week.

Psittacosis: can you get chlamydia from a parrot?

Absolutely all strains of Chlamydia psittaci are capable of causing disease in humans and birds, but are strictly zoonotic. This means that transmission of infection occurs from birds to humans, and the spread of infection between people is almost impossible. In this case, a bird can be a carrier of infection without obvious clinical manifestations.

The pathogen was first identified in humans after contact with a sick parrot, hence its name (Latin psittacinus - parrot) - psittacosis. Parrots are affected by only one type of this infection, while others cause the disease in pigeons, chickens and other birds (more than 150 species of birds in total), so there is another, more well-known name for the disease - psittacosis.

Ways of infection with psittacosis

A person can become infected in three ways:

1. Airborne dust path, when a person inhales infected dust, which contains discharge from the beak, microparticles of feces, fluff, and so on.
2. Nutritional route, when eating contaminated meat and milk. This is how they become infected in approximately one case out of ten.
3. Contact route - observed very rarely during close contact with infected birds, for example, when cutting carcasses.

The main source of human infection is industrial poultry from poultry farms and large farms. The smaller one contains decorative pets, including canaries and parrots. Another significant source of infection is urban pigeons, many of which suffer from chlamydia.

In some cases, the intermediate link between poultry and humans can be agricultural and domestic animals - goats, sheep and cows, which became infected from birds. Therefore, the question of whether chlamydia is transmitted to humans from dogs arises among people for a reason. Yes, in rare cases this is possible.

There is no separate “canine” chlamydia that is dangerous for humans. But a dog can become an intermediate carrier of psittacosis if it becomes infected from a sick bird. In medicine, more than one case has been recorded in which dogs became infected with psittacosis from parrots and pigeons by sniffing them. If it turns out that the dog is infected, it must be treated, and the owner must avoid too close contact with the animal so as not to become infected.

There is no separate “canine” chlamydia that is dangerous for humans

Symptoms and course of ornithosis

With the airborne dust mechanism of infection, chlamydia enters the human body through the respiratory tract, in the epithelium of which the pathogen rapidly multiplies. As a result, inflammation develops in the affected organs. If the disease is not stopped at this stage, then generalized chlamydia may develop, affecting internal organs and the nervous system.

The latent period of the disease, while the infection gains strength, ranges from 5 days to a month, after which symptoms appear that are very similar to the flu: fever, muscle and joint pain, conjunctivitis.

On days 2-4 of the illness, signs of damage to the respiratory tract appear, bronchitis and small focal pneumonia develop, which is accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition, shortness of breath, and cough. In some cases, against the background of severe intoxication, 5-8 days after the onset of the disease, the liver and spleen become enlarged, and symptoms of irritation of the meninges may appear.

With the nutritional mechanism of infection, the pathogen penetrates the mucous membrane of the small intestine. Its mucous membrane is inconvenient for the proliferation of chlamydia, so it serves only as a “transfer point” for the further spread of infection. Infection through the rectum can cause an atypical form of the disease, which occurs without pneumonia.

Atypical psittacosis also develops a week to a month after a person is infected. The disease begins with an increase in temperature to 39-40°C and signs of general intoxication - weakness, weakness, aching in the joints and bones.

After a week of fever, an attentive doctor will be able to detect an enlargement of the patient’s liver and spleen. However, neither upon examination nor on x-ray are there any signs of lung damage. Fever lasts 3-4 weeks.

During this time, psittacosis can take a generalized course and affect a variety of internal organs, causing dangerous diseases such as meningitis and endocarditis. Atypical psittacosis occurs in 10% of cases, and it is quite difficult to diagnose them.

With the contact mechanism of infection, the disease proceeds similarly, but in a milder form. The infection enters the blood through damaged skin and mucous membranes. These symptoms may be less pronounced - in this case, the person feels only a slight malaise, and the temperature rises to low numbers. Sometimes the infection is completely asymptomatic.

Psittacosis does not have any distinctive signs, and in the first days it is almost impossible to suspect it. Meanwhile, this is not as rare a disease as it might seem. For example, in Moscow, every fifth pneumonia in 1999 was a consequence of psittacosis.

Psittacosis does not have any distinctive signs, and in the first days it is almost impossible to suspect it

Methods of infection

Most often, pets that come into contact with stray animals become infected. Chlamydia can live for up to two days outside the host's body in a dark, warm, damp environment. In the sun they quickly die. High-risk areas include veterinary hospitals, exhibitions, shows, homeless shelters, nurseries, basements, and public places.

Cats become infected as follows:

• through the soles of shoes, outer clothing, or the hands of a person who has had contact with the carrier animal;
• from tear fluid, excrement of a sick individual;
• through bedding, wool or grass on which an infected person walked some time ago;
• by airborne droplets from direct contact;
• sexual transmission, not confirmed by scientific research.

Cats become infected by hunting birds, mice, or through contact with feces, saliva and urine of an infected rodent or bird. In laboratory conditions, it has been established that from the moment the pathogenic microorganism penetrates the conjunctiva until the first symptoms of illness appear, 3 to 5 days pass.

In the natural outdoor environment, the incubation period for feline chlamydia increases on average to two weeks. The virus lives in the external environment for about a day and a half. Pathogens die in a couple of minutes if they get into boiling water.

The following can also destroy a harmful pathogen:

• exposure to ultraviolet rays;
• chloramine;
• phenol.

Penetrating into the body, feline chlamydia enters the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach, intestines, bladder, oral cavity, pharynx, and conjunctiva. There it begins to destroy organ protection and multiplies rapidly. This occurs due to binary fission. Young, elderly or immunocompromised animals get sick much more quickly.

The parasite spreads to the reproductive system only in a third of cases. If a pregnant female with feline chlamydia gives birth during the acute period, the offspring may be infected. This form is called neonatal. Infection occurs at the moment when the fetus moves through the birth canal. The first day the babies look healthy, but their eyes do not open for some time. After a couple of days, it becomes clear that the eyelids are glued together with purulent discharge appearing from the corners of the eyes.

Neonatal chlamydia in a kitten causes a severe respiratory complication, but it most often goes away within a week after adequate treatment. The lack of drug therapy, even if the cubs survive, entails lifelong blindness. That is why breeding individuals are tested before each mating for the presence of feline chlamydia in the body of the future parents.

How is chlamydia transmitted?

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, contact and sexual contact.

Transmission of the pathogen occurs through contact with discharge from the eyes and nose, as well as with feces and urine of a cat. Carriers are sick and recovered animals. Fetuses can become infected from a mother with chlamydia transplacentally or during birth, when the kittens pass through the birth canal.

Most chlamydial infections are local in nature. The incubation period is from five to fifteen days.

The disease can exist for a long time in places where several animals are kept and transmit the infection to each other.

Most often, the disease is observed in kittens aged 5 weeks and older, since chlamydial infection is activated under various stresses, for example, when kittens are weaned from their mother, and at this time a significant decrease in the titer of maternal antibodies occurs in their body. However, adult cats can also become infected.

Forms of chlamydia in cats

The manifestation of the disease does not begin from the very first day after infection, but after 5-10 days. Veterinarians distinguish acute and chronic forms of chlamydia in cats. Periods of exacerbation, or relapse, and attenuation, or remission, are also recorded.

Latent species

Good immunity helps the animal to vigorously fight the microbe. Therefore, the disease can occur in a hidden or, in other words, latent form. Initially, there is a fever that lasts 2-3 days. In general, the pet's condition is satisfactory. Appetite remains normal, activity does not decrease. If the eyes are a little watery, the owner will most likely think of a cold.

The first two weeks, conjunctivitis appears in one eye, then the inflammation spreads to the second organ of vision. The mucous membrane of the eyelids swells and turns red. This can last from several days to a couple of months.

Pneumonia with this type of chlamydia in cats is extremely difficult to diagnose because small peripheral areas of the lungs become inflamed. In this case, breathing is almost not affected. Only a histological examination performed in a veterinary clinic will help determine a pulmonary disease.

The reproductive system is also subject to pathology: cervicitis develops, that is, inflammation of the cervix, urethritis, and miscarriages occur in pregnant females. Males experience orchitis, or inflammation of the testes, as well as balanoposthitis of the glans penis.

Acute and chronic types

With chronic manifestations of chlamydia in cats, the listed signs are invisible, so it is very difficult to guess about the disease. Due to the lack of a clear clinical picture, the pet will be a carrier, and no one will guess about it.

In the acute form, the manifestations of feline chlamydia are much more noticeable. Unfortunately, not all owners attach importance to this. Over time, complete attenuation occurs, and then transition to the chronic type.

Eye ointments and drops

Use only after first cleaning the eyes from pus and dry crusts with chamomile decoction or saline solution:

• tetracycline eye ointment 1% (50-70 rub.): put a small amount behind the lower eyelid 2-3 times a day for 5-7 days;
• erythromycin ointment 10,000 units (70-100 rubles): use similarly to tetracycline ointment;
• chloramphenicol drops (about 20 rubles): 1 drop in each eye up to 3-4 times a day for at least 1 week. If there is no noticeable improvement on day 3, the product needs to be replaced;
• “Iris” drops (on average about 125 rubles): drop 1-2 drops into both eyes 3-4 times a day for 10 days. The same drops can be used to wash away dried purulent crusts;
• “Bars” drops (up to 130 rubles): used for washing and relieving pain in the eyes before drug treatment (contains novocaine);
• “Dekta 2” drops (up to 110 rubles): 2-3 drops 2-3 times a day into the affected eyes until the clinical manifestations of the disease disappear (on average 3-5 days).

Symptoms of chlamydia in a cat

When chlamydia enters the body, it causes conjunctivitis, that is, suppuration of the mucous membrane of the front and inner part of the eyes. They begin to behave like intracellular parasites.

Eye inflammation

The pathogen penetrates the epithelial cells of the conjunctiva. It develops, destroying tissue, and purulent discharge appears. Clinical signs can be diagnosed only after 5-6 days. First one eye is affected, after 2 days both are affected.

The symptoms are severe: in addition to pain and discomfort, involuntary contraction of the eyelid appears. The mustachioed friend can hardly open his eyes, and there is severe swelling. Often the third eyelid swells so much that it bulges out.

Other symptoms:

• severe sneezing;
• cough;
• labored breathing;
• runny nose.

Thick yellow-green discharge flows from the nose and eyes. They dry quickly, forming a crust that is not recommended to be touched. Wanting to help, the owner risks damaging the soft tissues of these organs.

Respiratory view

This manifestation of chlamydia in cats is not considered typical, and it is rare. Veterinarians often misidentify it as bacterial pneumonia. Indeed, the clinical picture of chlamydial pneumonia is almost no different from ordinary pneumonia.

Signs may be the following:

• apathy;
• refusal to eat;
• high body temperature;
• cough.

The cough is initially hard and barking. Over time, it softens, it seems that something is gurgling in the chest. In the absence of timely treatment, sepsis develops. In such cases, the body temperature decreases, then the cat falls into a coma.

Chlamydial arthritis

The first reported case of such arthritis was described in 1999. Therefore, the pathogen has not yet been fully studied. Kittens and young animals are most at risk of becoming infected. However, cases of the disease have been identified regardless of age and breed.

Gastrointestinal disorders

With this type of infection, problems with the gastrointestinal tract rarely occur, although the accumulation and growth of harmful microorganisms occurs there. The main problem of gastrointestinal chlamydia is its asymptomatic course. In almost all cases, the appetite of infected animals is preserved, and the stool has a normal consistency. In this case, only laboratory tests can detect the disease.

Genitourinary disorders

Sexual chlamydia also does not have pronounced symptoms, although in approximately 30% of infected cats, chlamydia affects the reproductive and urinary systems. In some cases, owners note a pinkish discharge from the cat’s vagina; in males, the symptoms are more difficult to notice. The maximum that you can pay attention to is the constant licking of the genitals.

In unsanitary conditions, living in crowded conditions, in poorly ventilated areas, the spread of the virus occurs very quickly. So, as soon as a healthy person is in a cage or room with a sick fellow, from whose eyes purulent exudate flows, he can be considered infected.

Direct contact is not necessary for cats to become infected with chlamydia. The main factor of spread is humans. In nurseries, chlamydia can spread on the soles of shoes of staff and visitors. The microbe travels through shared bowls, trays, and hygiene items.

Symptoms

In the first few days of the disease, the cat experiences a slight increase in temperature. As a rule, this does not affect her appetite or general well-being. The acute form of conjunctivitis due to chlamydia begins with discharge from the eyes, which then becomes purulent due to a secondary infection. In this case, the conjunctiva becomes brick-red in color, individual vessels are visible, and swelling of the conjunctiva is possible.

The onset of the disease is characterized by rhinitis, the cat has nasal discharge, the animal coughs and sneezes. In severe cases, pulmonary edema may occur in young animals if left untreated.

But more often the disease is tolerated relatively easily: only conjunctivitis and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract are noted.

Damage to the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system in cats remains asymptomatic.

Depending on the state of the immune system, latent and subclinical forms of the disease often develop: in the latent form, chlamydia lives without reproducing, in the subclinical form, it multiplies without a pronounced reaction from the body.

Thus, cats are capable of being persistent asymptomatic carriers.

Diagnosis of chlamydia in a cat

The similarity of the symptoms of the onset of the disease with a common cold or conjunctivitis leads to the fact that the owners of infected people do not always seek help from a veterinary clinic. They prefer to help their pet on their own and watch for further manifestations of the disease. Unfortunately, this practice significantly worsens the patient’s condition, and then causes a transition to a latent type with a chronic course.

It has been precisely established that a sick animal with a latent course becomes a dangerous carrier for humans. Chlamydia can be spread through saliva, stool, and eye discharge. Therefore, at the first signs of chlamydia in a cat, you should promptly show it to a specialist.

At the veterinary center, he will be carefully examined and the existing symptoms will be compared with the characteristic signs of manifestations of the pathogenic microorganism. If infection is suspected, the veterinarian will prescribe a full examination:

• general blood analysis;
• swab from the nose and eyes to determine the pathogen;
• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis;
• x-ray for difficulty breathing;
• enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

For PCR, the laboratory examines any biological material: feces, urine, mucus, fluid from the eyes. This helps to detect even a single pathogenic cell. An ELISA test determines the presence of antibodies in the body. There is also a technique for staining a smear, which is taken from the conjunctival cavity. Most doctors consider this method to be quite subjective, because the mucous membrane may contain other microbes that interfere with the correct recognition of the disease.

To collect material for analysis, use a sterile cotton swab, as well as a special medical probe. The veterinarian examines the entire conjunctiva, places the sample in a special container and sends it for examination. Also, the patient's owner should be told in detail about possible methods of infection. This will help the specialist get a complete picture and quickly prescribe the necessary treatment.

Treatment of chlamydia in cats

In order not to distort the signs of the disease, you should not use medications before visiting the clinic. Routine eye rinsing helps. The same procedure is carried out before applying the ointment during therapy:

1. The gauze swab is moistened generously with warm boiled water, furatsilin solution or saline solution.
2. Gently wipe the eyelids, leaving smudges.
3. Soaked crusts are very carefully removed with a clean cotton swab towards the inner corner. Do not press or try to tear off dried pus.
4. Use a dry swab to gently blot the wet fur around the eyes.
5. At least 12 hours before visiting the clinic, you are allowed to instill Bars, Iris, Dekta-2.

After receiving the results of all laboratory tests and confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen. Typically used to treat feline chlamydia:

• antibacterial agents;
• antibiotics;
• eye drops;
• immunostimulants.

Each drug is used strictly individually. The dosage and frequency of administration depends entirely on the complexity of the disease, age and even breed of the patient. A very severe clinical picture is observed in kittens due to unformed immunity and the rapid spread of the microbe throughout the body. Only a veterinarian can prescribe medications and adjust their use for each individual furry patient.

The prognosis may be favorable if the following conditions are met:

• timely visit to the veterinary clinic;
• lack of self-medication, self-prescription of medications, especially antibiotics;
• Completed the course of therapy within 3-4 weeks;
• quarantine for contact with other household members;
• During a course of antibiotics, be sure to use probiotics;
• Chlamydia test at the end of treatment.

To effectively treat chlamydia in cats, veterinarians use tetracycline medications, such as doxycycline. The course of the drug lasts 4 weeks, it is given once a day. To completely cope with the intracellular microbe, it is important not to stop taking it. Often, the doctor will recommend continuing to give the antibiotic for at least 14 days. This will help stop the carriage of a dangerous strain.

For drug therapy in kittens, Clamoxil, Sinulox or amoxicillin are used. Doxycycline is not prescribed due to its negative effect on the development of the nail plate and teeth, and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. If several cats live in one apartment or house, the doctor prescribes a course of infection for all residents.

Eye drops or ointments can help relieve the symptoms of chlamydia in cats. Their main component is ciprofloxacin, tetracycline. These external remedies cannot lead to a final recovery, but simply transfer the disease into a latent form. Treatment of mucous membranes is carried out 3-4 times a day.

What and how to treat

The diagnosis is made only on the basis of a special test for chlamydia. It is impossible to determine this infection by clinical examination alone.

Swabs and swabs from the eyes, nose and/or genitals are sent to the laboratory. The study is carried out in two different ways, because with frequent secondary infections, there may be errors in the results.

Treatment of chlamydia in cats is usually not difficult, especially if the diagnosis was made in a timely manner and the therapeutic regimen was prescribed by a veterinary specialist. If you try to cure an infection on your own, there is a high risk of the disease becoming chronic, and microorganisms will develop resistance to incorrectly selected antibacterial agents.

After prescribing a treatment regimen, all manipulations can be carried out at home, if the cat does not have complications in the lungs and does not have difficulty breathing. In this case, the sick animal must be isolated from other pets, if any. No special diet required.

Treatment with antibacterial drugs and antibiotics should continue even after the clinical signs of the disease disappear, i.e. at least 3-4 weeks.

If the duration of treatment is not followed, chlamydia will develop resistance to medications, which will significantly complicate cure. At the end of the entire course of treatment, it is good to conduct a control test for chlamydia, because disappearance of symptoms does not always mean cure.

Caring for a sick animal

First of all, infected animals are completely isolated from contact with other animals, and contact with people is limited as much as possible. This does not mean that the poor fellow should be left alone without affection and support. It is enough for only one family member to take care of the patient: it is necessary to wear gloves when processing the conjunctival mucosa, so as not to further harm the pet and not to catch an infection.

Due to the use of antibiotics, dysbacteriosis may develop, so during the recovery period, yoghurts and low-fat fermented milk products, which contain lactobacilli, should be added to the diet. Chicken broth or wet food recommended by your veterinarian will help ease the digestion process. It is easier to add powdered tablets to these products.

The room intended for keeping an infected pet must be treated with special disinfectant solutions. Hygiene must be at a high level. The litter box is cleaned more often than before.

When contacting a mustachioed friend, family members should remove outer clothing and clean outdoor shoes to prevent transmission of the parasite. After interacting with the patient, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and then wipe with an antibacterial solution to completely destroy germs. It is unacceptable to release an animal into the street, where it can infect its relatives.

Prevention of infection

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect cats from infection with chlamydia. They do not have the necessary set of antibodies in the body that can cope with the harmful microbe. However, following simple preventive measures will significantly reduce the risk.

What veterinarians advise:

1. Examine your pet annually in veterinary clinics, this is especially important in the case of mating or participation in championships and exhibitions.
2. Limit communication, games with stray brothers, and prevent the capture of rodents.
3. Monitor the sanitary and hygienic conditions of keeping your mustachioed friend.
4. When returning home, a person needs to wash their hands and keep their outerwear or shoes clean.
5. Offer your pet a proper, balanced diet. It must be appropriate for age, size and breed characteristics.
6. Use vitamin and mineral complexes to develop and maintain a strong immune system.
7. Carry out regular deworming against intestinal parasites. This will keep your health in good condition.

Additionally, you need to remember about your relationship with your pet. Constant shouting, spanking, and rudeness cause him to become stressed, which weakens his overall well-being, making him more susceptible to infections.

Homeless shelters rarely allow pets to be separated into separate groups, although this is a necessary condition for safe cohabitation. The owners of such places try to breed vaccinated cats and individuals with obvious manifestations of the disease in different enclosures.

On the territory of nurseries for breeding purebred representatives of the cat family, only vaccinated, completely healthy individuals should be kept, and each newcomer is accommodated in a separate room for 3-4 weeks for quarantine.

Prevention

Chlamydia is an insidious disease not only for the pet, but also for the owner. It is very difficult for a kitten to experience and it is best to prevent its occurrence. Prevention and control of the spread of infection in cats is the key to the safety of animals and humans. To do this you need:

• vaccinate or otherwise inoculate cats against chlamydia;
• exclude visiting the street;
• visit the veterinarian regularly;
• fight rodents, as they can be carriers;
• carry out mating between a cat and a male cat only after a preventive examination.

Very often, the infection has a negative effect on the respiratory system and is characterized by an exacerbation of conjunctivitis. This disease also negatively affects humans. The most suitable option to combat the disease is to vaccinate the animal.

Preventive vaccination

Currently, several vaccines are used in veterinary practice to help prevent the development of a dangerous strain. There is a foreign, proven vaccine, Katavac Chlamydia. The Russian analogue drug is the biologically created drug ChlamiKon. Both drugs belong to the group of monovaccines and are called prophylactic.

Multivalent (multifunctional) preventive agents include Multifel-4, which protects against a complex of bacteria: tracheitis, calcivirus, chlamydia. The drug was produced in Russia and received many positive reviews from veterinarians. Its foreign analogue is Felovax-4, produced in the United States of America, and Purevax RCPCh, produced in France.

A prerequisite for successful vaccination is preliminary deworming, as well as good health. Therefore, before routine vaccination, the veterinarian is obliged to examine the pet for the presence of viruses and bacteria.

How to avoid infection (prevention of chlamydia infection in cats)

The disease is insidious due to its asymptomatic course, so it is better to prevent it than to treat it:

1. Avoid contact of your pet with street cats that do not inspire trust. Avoid free walking in unfamiliar areas.
2. Carry out preventive vaccination (vaccines: Nobivak Forket, ChlamiKon, Felovax, Purevax RCPCh, Multifel-4, Catavak Chlamydia), but after a preliminary analysis for this disease, so as not to worsen the health condition.
3. Regular preventative examinations at the veterinarian.
4. Regular rodent control measures.
5. Mating with cats of purebred individuals is permissible only after testing for chlamydia.

Transmission of bacteria to humans

The bacterium is dangerous not only for representatives of the cat family, but also for all family members. A person becomes infected while caring for a patient in any phase of recovery if simple rules of personal hygiene are not followed. The disease begins to manifest itself in the form of conjunctivitis of the eyes. Infection of young children, elderly and sick family members with weakened immune systems is especially undesirable. Therefore, it is better to completely protect them from close communication with the carrier.

The greatest danger to the owner and other household members is the chronic course of chlamydia in cats. In this case, it is asymptomatic, because of this it is impossible to guess in time about the presence of a dangerous infection.

Chlamydia is characterized by respiratory manifestations and the development of viral conjunctivitis. A laboratory test at a veterinary clinic helps determine the presence of the parasite. Drug therapy takes a long time and under the strict supervision of a veterinarian. In addition to the usual preventive measures, vaccines are used to prevent infection of household members.

The article is for informational purposes only. Contact your veterinarian!

Question answer

Is it possible to get chlamydia from a cat to a person?

The risk of infection is very small, but it is there. People with weakened immune systems are mainly at risk. The eyes are usually affected. Respiratory and intestinal tracts – isolated cases have been recorded.

How can you tell if your cat has chlamydia?

The danger of spreading infection between cats is that the animal may simply be an asymptomatic carrier of the infection (up to 12% of all cases). In other cases, these are the ocular and pulmonary forms: redness of the conjunctiva, severe swelling, bulging of the third eyelid, active lacrimation, in parallel, discharge from the nose appears, the cat begins to sneeze and rub its muzzle and eyes with its paws. In rare cases, a cough may occur.

The remaining forms (intestinal, gastric and genital) are usually asymptomatic. This disease significantly suppresses the immune system, which gives scope for secondary infections. Owners take their pets to the veterinarian with one disease, and during the course of diagnosis they may find out that the cat also has chlamydia.

How to treat chlamydia in cats?

This infectious disease is successfully treated. There are no treatment templates - only an individual approach to each animal separately and only as prescribed by a specialist. The treatment regimen will depend on whether there are other concomitant diseases and infections. Antibiotic therapy is required (tetracycline antibiotics for a course of up to 3-4 weeks) and symptomatic eye medications to eliminate local reactions. Drugs are often prescribed to support or stimulate the immune system to fight infection.

Is feline chlamydia dangerous for humans?

The disease does not pose a great danger to humans. The likelihood of becoming infected from a sick animal during its treatment and care, subject to all hygiene rules, is very small. If it is transmitted, it manifests itself in the form of chlamydial conjunctivitis, which is quickly and successfully treated with properly selected antibiotics. For pregnant women, the “cat” strain does not pose a danger. It is also not dangerous for the fetus, however, this fact does not negate the rules of personal hygiene when interacting with a mustachioed pet during pregnancy, especially if the animal does get sick.

Can a cat be vaccinated against chlamydia?

Yes, it is possible and necessary, because... After an illness, immunity is developed very weakly or not at all, so not a single animal is immune from re-infection. Vaccinations are given with mono- or polyvaccines only to healthy pets after a preliminary examination by a veterinarian and deworming. Polyvaccines are not very suitable, because revaccination is done every 4 months, and they are significantly more expensive than single vaccines.

The most famous mono-vaccines are Catavak Chlamydia and ChlamyCon. However, continuous vaccination is not recommended because there are a number of side effects. There must be indications (for example, an outbreak of chlamydia in the area where a cat lives, or when there are many cats living in a house, one is sick, and the other needs to be protected).

It is important to note that no vaccine protects a cat from the disease 100%, but it significantly simplifies the course and clinical manifestations.

Author:

Grinchuk Ekaterina Andreevna veterinarian