Conjunctival swab cytology from a guinea pig: it's elementary

Three 3‐month‐old guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were evaluated for purulent ocular discharge. Conjunctival swabs were obtained for cytologic evaluation of Wright's‐Giemsa–stained preparations. The specimen from the most severely affected guinea pig consisted primarily of karyolytic neutrophils...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary clinical pathology 2005-06, Vol.34 (2), p.169-171
Main Authors: Strik, N.I, Alleman, A.R, Wellehan, J.F.X
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal diseases
Animals
bacterial infections
case studies
Chlamydia
Chlamydophila
Chlamydophila caviae
conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis - microbiology
Conjunctivitis - veterinary
cytology
disease diagnosis
guinea pig
guinea pigs
Guinea Pigs - microbiology
inclusion conjunctivitis
lymphocytes
Male
males
neutrophils
Psittacosis - diagnosis
Psittacosis - pathology
Psittacosis - veterinary
Rodent Diseases - microbiology
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Summary:Three 3‐month‐old guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were evaluated for purulent ocular discharge. Conjunctival swabs were obtained for cytologic evaluation of Wright's‐Giemsa–stained preparations. The specimen from the most severely affected guinea pig consisted primarily of karyolytic neutrophils and small lymphocytes. Epithelial cells occasionally were observed that contained intracytoplasmic coccoid basophilic organisms, 0.5–1.5 μm in diameter. The intraepithelial inclusions were most consistent with Chlamydia sp elementary and reticulate bodies. Specimens from the other 2 guinea pigs had a similar inflammatory response, but organisms were not observed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of a conjunctival swab from the most severely affected guinea pig was positive for C psittaci, which also is referred to as Chlamydophila caviae, immunotype 8, formerly known as the guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis strain of C psittaci. Chlamydial conjunctivitis is a common problem in guinea pig populations, with C caviae being specific for this species. Cytologic identification of elementary or reticulate bodies within epithelial cells is diagnostic for the organism in Giemsa‐stained preparations. However, PCR is an important complementary tool when organisms are not observed and for accurate classification of the Chlamydia species.
ISSN:0275-6382
1939-165X
DOI:10.1111/j.1939-165X.2005.tb00034.x