RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI PNEUMONIA

Two cases of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia are presented. In each, a ra pid diagnosis was made through the use of direct immunofluorescent ant ibody staining of respiratory secretions with monoclonal antibodies to chlamydial antigens. In one case the diagnosis was confirmed by the i solation of the causative organism from sputum and a pharyngeal swab. Chlamydial lipopolysaccharide was detectable in sputum from this patie nt in an enzyme immunoassay. Serological responses to C. psittaci, Chl amydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae were evaluated, and serol ogical cross-reactivity was observed between each species. Rapid antig en detection systems for Chlamydia species that use commercially avail able reagents can be helpful in the evaluation of selected patient pop ulations.