DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI IN VAGINA L DISCHARGE OF CATTLE - A NECESSARY EXTENSION OF BIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS FOR ETIOLOGIC CLARIFICATION OF INFERTILITY IN COWS

Vaginal discharge from 119 dairy cows from 59 herds was examined bacte riologically, including application of the IDEIA(R) Chlamydia test, to detect genus-specific chlamydial LPS-antigen. A putrid quality of spe cimens was closely correlated with isolation of Actinomyces pyogenes ( p < 0.001). The IDEIA was positive for 39 of 65 (60.0%) non-putrid spe cimens and for 16 of 54 (29.6%) putrid specimens; a non-putrid quality of specimens was closely correlated with the detection of chlamydial antigen (p < 0.01). IDEIA-positive results were confirmed by a blockin g-antibody assay and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a set of primers based on the 16S rRNA sequences of Chlamydia psittaci. Chlamy dia-positive non-putrid specimens generally yielded no other bacterial pathogens. The clinical history of repeat breeding and endometritis, as well as failure to isolate other bacterial pathogens on routinely u sed non-living media, were strongly suggestive of primary chlamydial i nvolvement in these cases.