SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF FELINE CHLAMYDIOSIS BY MICROIMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY WITH MULTIPLE STRAINS AS ANTIGENS

The prevalence of anti-chlamydia antibodies was examined in 232 cat se ra collected in 1985 and from 1993 to 1995 from laboratories and veter inary hospitals located in 11 prefectures of Japan. The antibodies wer e determined by an indirect microimmunofluorescence test using six str ains of feline Chlamydia: one strain each of avian- and guinea pig-der ived C. psittaci and one strain each of C. pecorum, C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis. Positive rates of IgG antibodies to chlamydiae were 34 .4% in 1985 and 16.5-21.4% from 1993 to 1995. Positive rates of IgM an tibodies to chlamydiae were 8.2% in 1985 and 6.6-14.3% from 1993 to 19 95. Variations in antibody reactivity to the different feline strains were observed. The results suggest the wide prevalence of chlamydial i nfection in cats in Japan, and antigenic diversity in the feline strai ns of C. psittaci.