An unusual presentation of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in a Royal Python (Python regius)

Abstract

Chlamydia species are a relatively newly recognised and emerging pathogen in reptile species. Chlamydia pneumoniae has been reported to cause infections in several snake species, as well as other reptiles and amphibia, leading to granulomatous lesions in multiple organs, enteritis, pneumonia‐like signs and generalised condition loss. In this case the snake presented with anorexia, severe loss of condition and the neurological sign of loss of its righting reflex. No pneumonia‐like clinical signs were present. C pneumoniae was identified by PCR from the pooled viscera and as the causal agent of the splenitis by immunolocalisation within a splenic granuloma. This the first case report of C pneumoniae infection in a Royal Python and also of the neurological presentation that makes this case unusual. C pneumoniae should be included in the list of differentials for neurological disease in snakes.

A Review on Chlamydial Diseases in Animals: Still a Challenge for Pathologists?

“…62,63 An unusual case of C. pneumoniae infection was recently described in a royal python showing neurological signs. 34 Histology revealed lymphocytic enteritis with histiocytic granulomas, granulomatous splenitis and meningitis. Chlamydial IHC was positive in splenic granulomas and PCR identified C. pneumoniae in pooled visceral tissues.…”

Characterisation of Chlamydia pneumoniae and other novel chlamydial infections in captive snakes

“…Organs commonly affected are the spleen, heart, lung and liver, and diagnosis is usually on the basis of visualisation of the inclusions by light or electron microscopy. In many cases, proliferative pneumonia was observed prior to euthanasia or natural death of reptiles (Bodetti et al, 2002), and limited cases have reported inflammation or lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, wasting disease, necrotising mycocarditis, necrotising enteritis and splenitis (Bodetti et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2004;Cope et al, 2014).…”

Students communicate their professional passion through Pecha Kucha

“…The infection typically manifests as inflammatory lesions in affected organs (granulomatous inflammation) (Howerth, 1984;Homer et al, 1994). In many cases, proliferative pneumonia was observed prior to euthanasia or natural death of reptiles (Bodetti et al, 2002), and limited cases have reported inflammation or lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, wasting disease, necrotising mycocarditis, necrotising enteritis and splenitis (Bodetti et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2004;Cope et al, 2014). In many cases, proliferative pneumonia was observed prior to euthanasia or natural death of reptiles (Bodetti et al, 2002), and limited cases have reported inflammation or lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, wasting disease, necrotising mycocarditis, necrotising enteritis and splenitis (Bodetti et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2002;Jacobson et al, 2004;Cope et al, 2014).…”