Pathology of experimental chlamydiosis in chicks.

Twelve one-day-old chicks were experimentally inoculated with Chlamydia psittaci derived from turkeys. Acute chlamydial septicemic lesions were induced by the inoculation into the air sac and trachea. No lesions were produced by the esophageal injection. Clinically, the affected chicks showed emaciation and mouth breathing, and were inactive while some birds died. Grossly, they had hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and airsacculitis. Histopathologically, fibrinopurulent airsacculitis, pneumonia and bronchitis, multiple fibrinous serositis in the hepatic and splenic capsules, peri- and epicardium, and mesenterium, focal endoarteritis in the aortae, activation of reticuloendothelial cells in the spleen, and hepatic necrosis were noted. Immunohistochemically, chlamydial antigen granules were present in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the respiratory system, hepatocytes, macrophages in the air sac, lung, serous membrane, liver, spleen, aortae, reticuloendothelial cells in the spleen, and mesothelial cells in various organs or tissues. Chlamydial multiplication in the cells of the organs or tissues involved was preceded to form the lesions.