| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are numerous reports linking <it>Chlamydia </it>infection to human coronary atherosclerosis. However, there is a lack of data regarding this correlation in dogs and cats, and there are no reports investigating coronary arteriosclerosis and <it>Chlamydia </it>in these species. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is a correlation between canine and feline spontaneous atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis and the presence of <it>Chlamydia</it>. Archived histopathological samples of dogs (n = 16) and cats (n = 13) with findings of atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis in heart tissue were examined for the presence of <it>Chlamydiaceae </it>using real-time PCR, ArrayTube Microarray and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, arteriosclerotic lesions of all cases were histologically classified and graded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both canine atherosclerotic cases, and all 14 canine arteriosclerotic cases were negative for <it>Chlamydia</it>. Only one of the 13 arteriosclerotic feline cases was positive for <it>Chlamydia </it>by real-time PCR, revealing <it>C. abortus </it>by ArrayTube Microarray. To our knowledge, this is the first description of <it>C. abortus </it>in a cat. Overall, the type and grade of canine and feline arteriosclerotic lesions revealed similarities, and were predominantly moderate and hyperplastic.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that there is no obvious correlation between canine and feline coronary arteriosclerosis and the presence of <it>Chlamydia</it>. In order to draw final conclusions about the correlation between <it>Chlamydia </it>and canine atherosclerosis, examination of more samples is required.</p>
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