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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2005, p. 1858-1864, Vol. 43, No. 4
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.4.1858-1864.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Use of Quantitative Real-Time PCR To Monitor the Response of Chlamydophila felis Infection to Doxycycline Treatment

Rachel Dean,* Ross Harley, Chris Helps, Sarah Caney, and Tim Gruffydd-Jones

School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol, United Kingdom

Received 9 September 2004/ Returned for modification 17 October 2004/ Accepted 20 December 2004

Fifteen cats infected with Chlamydophila felis were monitored for the presence of C. felis DNA on ocular swabs by using real-time PCR and for clinical signs of disease. The cats were assigned to three groups: oral doxycycline at 10 mg/kg of body weight/day for 7 days (six cats), oral doxycycline at 10 mg/kg/day for 14 days (five cats), and an untreated control group (four cats). The untreated cats remained positive for C. felis throughout the trial; clinical signs were most severe on days 14 to 21 postinfection, and then they declined. Treatment with 7 and 14 days of doxycycline decreased C. felis relative copy numbers and clinical signs rapidly. C. felis became undetectable in some of the cats during or after treatment. However, after the cessation of treatment, a recurrence of high relative copy numbers of C. felis and severe clinical signs in all cats was seen. Rescue treatment with 21 days of doxycycline was successful at eliminating infection in eight of the cats; a further 28 days of doxycycline was required to eliminate infection in the remaining three cats. It was concluded that 7, 14, and, in some cases, 21 days of treatment with oral doxycycline will not eliminate C. felis infection. At least 28 days of treatment with doxycycline is required to ensure elimination of the organism. Real-time PCR is a sensitive technique for monitoring C. felis infection and the response to antibiotic treatment.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The Feline Centre, Division of Companion Animal Studies, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU United Kingdom. Phone: 44 117 928 9558. Fax: 44 117 928 9559. E-mail: r.dean{at}bristol.ac.uk.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2005, p. 1858-1864, Vol. 43, No. 4
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.4.1858-1864.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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