Title: Chlamydia felis

{{Short description|Species of bacterium}}
{{Speciesbox
| genus = Chlamydia
| species = felis
| authority = (Everett et al. 1999) Sachse et al. 2015
| synonyms =
* ''Chlamydophila felis'' {{au|Everett et al., 1999}}&lt;ref name=&quot;EverettBush1999&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Everett KD, Bush RM, Andersen AA | title = Emended description of the order Chlamydiales, proposal of Parachlamydiaceae fam. nov. and Simkaniaceae fam. nov., each containing one monotypic genus, revised taxonomy of the family Chlamydiaceae, including a new genus and five new species, and standards for the identification of organisms | journal = International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology | volume = 49 Pt 2 | issue = 2 | pages = 415–40 | date = April 1999 | pmid = 10319462 | doi = 10.1099/00207713-49-2-415 | url = https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=26011&amp;content=PDF | doi-access = free | access-date = 2018-12-29 | archive-date = 2021-07-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191435/https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=26011&amp;content=PDF | url-status = dead }}&lt;/ref&gt;
* ''[[Chlamydia psittaci]]'' var. ''felis''
}}

'''''Chlamydia felis''''' is a [[Gram-negative bacteria|Gram-negative]], [[Intracellular parasite|obligate intracellular]] [[Pathogenic bacteria|bacterial pathogen]] that infects cats.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Azuma Y, Hirakawa H, Yamashita A, Cai Y, Rahman MA, Suzuki H, Mitaku S, Toh H, Goto S, Murakami T, Sugi K, Hayashi H, Fukushi H, Hattori M, Kuhara S, Shirai M | display-authors = 6 | title = Genome sequence of the cat pathogen, Chlamydophila felis | journal = DNA Research | volume = 13 | issue = 1 | pages = 15–23 | date = February 2006 | pmid = 16766509 | doi = 10.1093/dnares/dsi027 | url = https://academic.oup.com/dnaresearch/article/13/1/15/486747 | doi-access = free }}&lt;/ref&gt; It is [[Endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]] among [[domestic cat]]s worldwide, primarily causing inflammation of feline [[conjunctiva]], [[rhinitis]] and respiratory problems. ''C. felis'' can be recovered from the stomach and reproductive tract. [[Zoonosis|Zoonotic infection]] of humans with ''C. felis'' has been reported. Strains FP Pring and FP Cello have an extrachromosomal plasmid, whereas the FP Baker strain does not. FP Cello produces lethal disease in mice, whereas the FP Baker does not. An attenuated FP Baker strain, and an attenuated 905 strain, are used as live vaccines for cats.

== Taxonomy and phylogeny ==
The genus ''[[Chlamydia]]'' contains the species ''[[Chlamydia trachomatis|C. trachomatis]], [[Chlamydia psittaci|C. psittaci]], [[Chlamydia abortus|C. abortus]], C. felis, [[Chlamydia muridarum|C. muridarum]], [[Chlamydia suis|C. suis]], [[Chlamydia caviae|C. caviae]], [[Chlamydia pecorum|C. pecorum]],'' and ''[[Chlamydia pneumoniae|C. pneumoniae]].''&lt;ref name=&quot;:92&quot;&gt;{{cite book | vauthors = Fox JG, Otto G, Colby LA | chapter =Chapter 28 - Selected Zoonoses|date=2015-01-01| chapter-url= http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095274000286 | veditors = Fox JG, Anderson LC, Otto GM, Pritchett-Corning KR, Whary MT | title = Laboratory Animal Medicine|pages=1313–1370 |series=American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine|publisher=Academic Press| doi =10.1016/B978-0-12-409527-4.00028-6|language=en|isbn=978-0-12-409527-4| s2cid =82669306|access-date=2020-04-24| edition =Third}}&lt;/ref&gt; However, there is some dispute that some of these species, including ''C. felis'', should be classified in a separate genus, ''[[Chlamydophila]]'', but this has not been widely accepted.&lt;ref name=&quot;:92&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' is closely related to ''C. pneumoniae'' (causes [[pneumonia]] in humans)'', C. trachomatis'' (causes [[Chlamydia]] in humans), and ''C. muridarum'' (causes pneumonia in mice).&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; ''C. pneumoniae'' shares 879 [[orthologs]], [[gene]]s that come from a common ancestor, with ''C. felis'' while ''C. trachomatis'' and ''C. muridarium'' both share 841 orthologs with ''C.felis''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; All ''Chlamydia'' species are Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogens with two distinct life stages (see Characterization) that are able to infect a wide range of mammals and birds around the world.&lt;ref name=&quot;:92&quot; /&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt;

== Discovery ==
In 1942, James A. Baker described a pathogen that causes [[atypical pneumonia]] in cats, mice, and apparently humans. Back then it was not known that ''Chlamydia'' are bacteria, and indeed Baker did not even use the term  ''Chlamydia''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Baker JA | title = a Virus Obtained From a Pneumonia of Cats and Its Possible Relation to the Cause of Atypical Pneumonia in Man | journal = Science | volume = 96 | issue = 2499 | pages = 475–6 | date = November 1942 | pmid = 17743467 | doi = 10.1126/science.96.2499.475 | bibcode = 1942Sci....96..475B | url = https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.96.2499.475 | url-access = subscription }}&lt;/ref&gt; Baker started researching this pathogen due to the number of atypical [[pneumonia]] cases observed in cats and later discovered that the atypical human pneumonia cases coincided with feline cases.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; Cats infected with this atypical pneumonia were recognized by their symptoms of sneezing, coughing, and [[ocular]] and [[Nasal cavity|nasal]] discharge.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; The disease was characterized by its highly infectious nature and long infection time.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; To determine what the causative agent was, Baker made a suspension of the infected cat lungs and used the suspension to infect mice via their nasal passage.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; The infected specimens died 2–5 days after initial infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; After [[autopsy]] of the deceased specimens, Baker confirmed that they died from the same disease from the condition of the lungs of the mice.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; He could not culture the pathogen using the available culturing methods of the time, so for a while thought that the causative agent might be a [[virus]]. Baker did find the causative agent when he spun the infected mouse lungs in a [[centrifuge]]. He found the elementary bodies (see {{section link||Characterization}}) of the pathogen that had been separated from the mouse lungs, confirming that they were the causative agent of the disease.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt;

Possibly the same organism was called ''Miyagawanella felis'' in the 7th edition of Bergey's Manual (1957), ''Rickettsiaformis felis'' in Zhdanov 1953, and ''Chlamydozoon felis'' in Ryzhkov 1950. When the combination name ''Chlamydia psittaci'' was first published in 1968, all these were considered synonyms and thus subsumed into ''C. psittaci''.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last1=Page |first1=L. A. |title=Proposal for the recognition of two species in the genus Chlamydia Jones, Rake, and Stearns, 1945 |journal=International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology |date=1 January 1968 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=51–66 |doi=10.1099/00207713-18-1-51}}&lt;/ref&gt;

In 1969 the pathogen was again reported to be zoonotic.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |last1=Schachter |first1=J |last2=Ostler |first2=HB |last3=Meyer |first3=KF |title=Human infection with the agent of feline pneumonitis. |journal=Lancet  |date=31 May 1969 |volume=1 |issue=7605 |pages=1063–5 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91703-6 |pmid=4181729}}&lt;/ref&gt;

In 1999, Everett et al. split out ''Chlamydophila felis'' from ''C. psittaci''. This is the first time for this pathogen to be an independent species since the nomenclatural starting-point of the ''[[Prokaryotic Code]]'' in 1980.&lt;ref name=&quot;EverettBush1999&quot; /&gt;

== Characterization ==
''C. felis'' is a [[Gram-negative bacteria|Gram negative]] (also known as [[Diderms|diderm]]),&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Otten C, Brilli M, Vollmer W, Viollier PH, Salje J | title = Peptidoglycan in obligate intracellular bacteria | journal = Molecular Microbiology | volume = 107 | issue = 2 | pages = 142–163 | date = January 2018 | pmid = 29178391 | pmc = 5814848 | doi = 10.1111/mmi.13880 | url = }}&lt;/ref&gt; [[Microaerophile|microaerophilic]]&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Omsland A, Sixt BS, Horn M, Hackstadt T | title = Chlamydial metabolism revisited: interspecies metabolic variability and developmental stage-specific physiologic activities | journal = FEMS Microbiology Reviews | volume = 38 | issue = 4 | pages = 779–801 | date = July 2014 | pmid = 24484402 | doi = 10.1111/1574-6976.12059 | pmc = 4790414 | url = | doi-access = free }}&lt;/ref&gt; [[Bacteria|bacterium]], whose cell wall seems to lack [[peptidoglycan]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|title=Chlamydia felis {{!}}|url=http://www.abcdcatsvets.org/chlamydia-chlamydophila-felis/|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-04|archive-date=2015-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107042826/http://www.abcdcatsvets.org/chlamydia-chlamydophila-felis/|url-status=dead}}&lt;/ref&gt; Its [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]] is that of a [[coccobacillus]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' is also an [[Intracellular parasite|obligate intracellular pathogen]] that infects [[Eukaryote|eukaryotic]] cells, specifically cats, but has [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]] potential.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; The [[Bacteria|bacterium]] like many in its [[phylum]], has evolved to have two distinct life stages: the elementary body (EB) and the reticulate body (RB).&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The EB is the infectious phase of the pathogen and is characterized by reduced [[Metabolism|metabolic]] activity and the inability to replicate.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The exact morphology of the EB varies among species within the ''[[Chlamydiota]]'' phylum.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The RB is the replicative phase of the pathogen's life cycle and has a higher metabolic activity compared to the EB.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; When the extracellular phase (EB) infects the host eukaryotic cell via [[endocytosis]] the bacteria transforms into the replicative phase (RB) while remaining in a membrane-bound [[Vesicle (biology and chemistry)|vesicle]] called an inclusion.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; Within the inclusion the RB cells will avoid the host cell's defenses, such as [[lysosome]]s, grow, and divide by [[Fission (biology)|binary fission]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; This method of infection and replication is common among the ''[[Chlamydia (bacterium)|Chlamydia]]'' genus. It is currently unknown how the bacteria receive their nutrients from the host while residing in the inclusion.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt;

=== Metabolism ===
Many [[Metabolism|metabolic]] processes and genes are highly conserved among ''[[Chlamydia]]''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; Due to ''C. felis''{{'}}s, and ''Chlamydia'' in general, small [[genome]], it is missing the genes for several essential [[enzyme]]s for metabolic pathways, such as [[glycolysis]] and the [[citric acid cycle]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; It cannot synthesize [[nucleotide]]s, nor many [[Cofactor (biochemistry)|cofactors]] or [[amino acid]]s.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; However, the [[bacteria]]'s ability to synthesize and/or scavenge amino acids and nucleotides varies from species-to-species and from strain-to-strain, as shown by ''C. felis's'' ability to synthesize the [[tryptophan]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; In order to survive, ''C. felis'' will take various [[metabolite]]s, such as [[Phosphorylation|phosphorylated]] sugars, and other essential molecules from the host cell.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; It is currently unknown exactly how the bacteria receive these molecules while residing in the inclusion.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; It is thought that the bacteria receive host [[lipid]]s by intercepting [[Vesicle (biology and chemistry)|vesicles]] departing from the [[Golgi apparatus]] and by stealing lipid droplets and host lipid [[Protein|transfer proteins]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; With the nutrients gathered from the host cell, the bacteria can perform [[glycolysis]] and the [[citric acid cycle]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The bacteria also have a fully functional [[electron transport chain]] (ETC), which includes a Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; translocating [[NADH dehydrogenase (quinone)|NADH dehydrogenase]], [[cytochrome bd oxidase]], and a [[V-ATPase|V-type ATPase]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' uses oxygen as its terminal [[electron acceptor]], in which the cytochrome bd oxidase is necessary.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The presence of a Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; translocating NADH dehydrogenase suggests that instead of a [[proton-motive force]], the bacteria uses a [[sodium-motive force]] for creating an [[electrochemical gradient]] across the [[Cell membrane|plasma membrane]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' has also been shown to have a complete [[pentose phosphate pathway]] (PPP) and [[gluconeogenesis]] pathway, as well as being capable of both creating and degrading [[glycogen]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt;

=== Genome ===
A bacterial culture was obtained by inoculating fertilized chicken eggs with ''C. felis''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; After the strain had gone through several chicken egg passages, the strain went through four passages of McCoy cells before finally being used for genetic analysis.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; The genome of ''C. felis'' was sequenced via [[Shotgun sequencing|whole genome shotgun]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; Each gene was then annotated by programs [[BLAST (biotechnology)|BLASTP]] and [[FASTA]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; Programs GenomeGambler, GeneHacker plus, and Glimmer 2.0 were used to predict protein-coding genes.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; To search from [[transmembrane protein]]s, the program [[SOSUI]] was used, and tRNAscan-SE for [[Transfer RNA|tRNA genes]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' has one [[circular chromosome]] that consists of around 1,100,00 [[base pair]]s.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; Compared to non-pathogenic organisms, the size of the ''C. felis'' is relatively small.&lt;ref name=&quot;:22&quot; /&gt; The [[gene]]s that ''C. felis'' does possess encode over 1,000 proteins.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; Many of the genes are highly conserved within the ''[[Chlamydia]]'' genus.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt;

A specific [[plasmid]] is also highly conserved among ''Chlamydia''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; The plasmid ''C. felis'' possess is called pCfe1 and is about 7,500 base pairs long.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; A recent study has suggested that the plasmid is necessary for [[pathogen]]icity, though the exact mechanism is currently unknown.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Zhong G |authorlink=Guangming Zhong |title = Chlamydial Plasmid-Dependent Pathogenicity | journal = Trends in Microbiology | volume = 25 | issue = 2 | pages = 141–152 | date = February 2017 | pmid = 27712952 | doi = 10.1016/j.tim.2016.09.006 | url= | pmc = 5272858 }}&lt;/ref&gt;

=== Ecology ===
''C. felis'' was originally discovered in the lungs of cats suffering from pneumonia.&lt;ref name=&quot;:82&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' used to be considered a strain of another member of its [[genus]], ''[[Chlamydia psittaci|C. psittaci]]'' until it was recognized as a separate [[species]] and reclassified as ''Chlamydophila felis''.&lt;ref name=&quot;:13&quot; /&gt; ''Chlamydophila felis'' was then reclassified to ''Chlamydia felis'' due to dispute on the taxonomic usage of ''[[Chlamydophila]]'', which is still disputed to this day.&lt;ref name=&quot;:92&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' is found worldwide.&lt;ref name=&quot;:10&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|title=Feline Chlamydiosis|url=https://www.zoetis.co.uk/conditions/cats/feline-chlamydiosis2.aspx|website=www.zoetis.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-05-07}}&lt;/ref&gt; It has been reported to infect humans as well, giving it [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]] potential, though it is rare.&lt;ref name=&quot;:10&quot; /&gt; Humans that are infected can suffer from conjunctivitis and/or respiratory problems.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Halánová M, Petrová L, Halán M, Trbolová A, Babinská I, Weissová T | title = Impact of way of life and environment on the prevalence of Chlamydia felis in cats as potentional &amp;#91;sic&amp;#93; sources of infection for humans | language = english | journal = Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine | volume = 26 | issue = 2 | pages = 222–226 | date = June 2019 | pmid = 31232049 | doi = 10.26444/aaem/100655 | url = http://www.aaem.pl/Impact-of-way-of-life-and-environment-on-the-prevalence-of-Chlamydia-felis-in-cats,100655,0,2.html | doi-access = free }}&lt;/ref&gt; As typical of many members of its genus, ''C. felis'' is well adapted to live within its host and cannot survive for long outside of the host.&lt;ref name=&quot;:11&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|title=Chlamydophila felis infection (feline chlamydophilosis) {{!}} International Cat Care|url=https://icatcare.org/advice/chlamydophila-felis-infection-feline-chlamydophilosis/|website=icatcare.org|access-date=2020-05-07}}&lt;/ref&gt; Thus, direct contact is necessary for the pathogen to spread and is why ''C. felis'' infection is more common in multi-cat environments.&lt;ref name=&quot;:11&quot; /&gt;

==== Disease ====
Infected cats typically contract conjunctivitis within a 2-5 day incubation period.&lt;ref name=&quot;:3&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Marti I, Pisano SR, Wehrle M, Meli ML, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Ryser-Degiorgis MP | title = Severe Conjunctivitis Associated with Chlamydia felis Infection in a Free-ranging Eurasian Lynx ( Lynx lynx) | journal = Journal of Wildlife Diseases | volume = 55 | issue = 2 | pages = 522–525 | date = April 2019 | pmid = 30376393 | doi = 10.7589/2018-05-142 | doi-access = free }}&lt;/ref&gt; Clinical signs of infection are [[hyperaemia]] of the [[nictitating membrane]] (severity varies), [[blepharospasm]], and discharge from the eye.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;:3&quot; /&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot;&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Gruffydd-Jones T, Addie D, Belák S, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Frymus T, Hartmann K, Hosie MJ, Lloret A, Lutz H, Marsilio F, Pennisi MG, Radford AD, Thiry E, Truyen U, Horzinek MC | display-authors = 6 | title = Chlamydophila felis infection. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management | language = en-US | journal = Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery | volume = 11 | issue = 7 | pages = 605–9 | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19481040 | doi = 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.05.009 | s2cid = 12054556 | url = https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.05.009 | pmc = 11132279 }}&lt;/ref&gt; The infection is not deadly, but if left untreated may cause blindness and pain for the cat.&lt;ref name=&quot;:6&quot;&gt;{{Cite web|title=Blindness {{!}} International Cat Care|url=https://icatcare.org/advice/blindness/|website=icatcare.org|access-date=2020-04-04}}&lt;/ref&gt; Infection is commonly spread among cats by [[Eye|ocular]] secretion.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; ''C. felis'' infection is most common in multicat environments such as shelters, breeder [[Cattery|catteries]], and among stray cat communities.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; Young cats, around the age of one year or under, are at the highest risk of infection.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; Infection can be detected either by culturing a sample or by [[Polymerase chain reaction|PCR]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; Ocular samples are the most common, but samples can also be [[Pharynx|oropharyngeal]], nasal, and/or oral.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; The infection can be treated with [[antibiotic]]s, typically with [[Tetracycline antibiotics|tetracyclines]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; [[Vaccine]]s for ''C. felis'', both [[Attenuated vaccine|attenuated]] and [[Inactivated vaccine|inactivated]], are available for cats.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt; For [[Immunodeficiency|immunocompromised]] cats it is recommended that they only receive the inactivated vaccine, and only if necessary.&lt;ref name=&quot;:02&quot; /&gt;

== Significance ==

=== Zoonotic potential ===
''C. felis'' typically has low [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]] potential, which is the likelihood that a [[pathogen]] can be spread from animal to human and still cause disease.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; People who own or handle cats regularly are at a higher risk of contracting an infection from an afflicted cat.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; The risk is even higher if the individual is [[Immunodeficiency|immunocompromised]] or if there is poor hygiene.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; In humans, ''C. felis'' could cause [[conjunctivitis]], various respiratory problems, and other diseases.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; Since most human cases are [[asymptomatic]], it is possible that this zoonosis occurs more often than we know.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt;

=== Cat health ===
''C. felis'' is a common cause of [[conjunctivitis]] and [[Upper respiratory tract infection|upper respiratory problems]] in cats.&lt;ref name=&quot;:6&quot; /&gt; If left untreated, it leads to damage in the eyes followed by a loss of vision and, eventually, [[blindness]].&lt;ref name=&quot;:6&quot; /&gt; While this is not fatal, it is still very uncomfortable for the cat.&lt;ref name=&quot;:6&quot; /&gt; Many countries do have a [[vaccine]] available.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt;

=== Adoption ===
Up to 95% of cats with this infection come from shelters that have poor hygiene practices.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; The presence of other animals, like in an animal shelter, increases prevalence.&lt;ref name=&quot;:5&quot; /&gt; This could have an impact on the adoption rates of animals in infected shelters.&lt;ref name=&quot;:7&quot;&gt;{{Cite thesis|title=Factors affecting the welfare and adoption rate of cats in an animal shelter|url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0090034|publisher=University of British Columbia|date=2001|first=Nadine|last=Gourkow}}&lt;/ref&gt; People generally prefer cats that appear happy, healthy, and playful.&lt;ref name=&quot;:7&quot; /&gt; However, some cats are adopted out of pity.&lt;ref name=&quot;:7&quot; /&gt;

=== Economic impact ===
''C. felis'' has been isolated from up to 30% of cats with conjunctivitis or [[Upper respiratory tract infection|upper respiratory tract disease]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal | vauthors = Wons J, Meiller R, Bergua A, Bogdan C, Geißdörfer W | title = Chlamydia felis-Case Report, Review of the Literature and Improved Molecular Diagnostics | language = English | journal = Frontiers in Medicine | volume = 4 | pages = 105 | date = 2017 | pmid = 28770201 | doi = 10.3389/fmed.2017.00105 | pmc = 5512277 | doi-access = free }}&lt;/ref&gt; [[Doxycycline|Doxycyline]] is an [[antibiotic]] that is commonly used to treat these infections at a dosage of 10&amp;nbsp;mg/kg of body weight daily for four weeks.&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot; /&gt; One 100&amp;nbsp;mg [[Capsule (pharmacy)|capsule]] can cost anywhere from $0.61 to US$13.26.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|title=Doxycycline|url=https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00254|website=www.drugbank.ca|access-date=2020-04-12}}&lt;/ref&gt; This cost of treatment can be financially limiting considering that all cats within a facility, shelter, or home must be treated regardless of whether they are infected to ensure the disease is effectively eradicated.&lt;ref name=&quot;:4&quot; /&gt;

== See also ==
*[[Feline vaccination]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Hillström A, Tvedten H, Källberg M, Hanås S, Lindhe A, Holst BS | title = Evaluation of cytologic findings in feline conjunctivitis | journal = Veterinary Clinical Pathology | volume = 41 | issue = 2 | pages = 283–90 | date = June 2012 | pmid = 22551068 | doi = 10.1111/j.1939-165X.2012.00423.x }}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Halánová M, Sulinová Z, Cisláková L, Trbolová A, Páleník L, Weissová T, Halán M, Kalinová Z, Holičková M | display-authors = 6 | title = Chlamydophila felis in cats--are the stray cats dangerous source of infection? | journal = Zoonoses and Public Health | volume = 58 | issue = 7 | pages = 519–22 | date = November 2011 | pmid = 21824351 | doi = 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2011.01397.x | s2cid = 8754550 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924081405/http://www.chlamydiae.com/docs/Chlamydiales/genus_chlamydophila.asp Chlamydiae.com]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5102723}}

[[Category:Chlamydiota]]
[[Category:Cat diseases]]
[[Category:Bacteria described in 1999]]