Detection of Chlamydia psittaci by immunofluorescence.

A direct fluorescent-antibody (FA) test was developed to detect Chlamydia psittaci in dural impressions from specimen-inoculated mice. Technical procedures for the test were compared. C. psittaci was found in mice after infection as early by the FA technique as it was by cytochemical staining methods usually used. The lymphogranuloma venereum organism was also stained by conjugated antibody to C. psittaci. A distinctive advantage of the described FA test is that organisms are identified immunologically as members of the genus Chlamydia simultaneously with their detection.