Differential diagnosis of polyarthritic and cutaneous manifestations of chlamydiosis in dogs: A clinical and immunological approach
Abstract
Canine chlamydiosis is an infectious disease that has gained considerable relevance in contemporary veterinary medicine. The study was conducted at the Irpin City State Veterinary Medicine Hospital (Irpin, Ukraine) during 2024–2025. A total of 167 cases with suspected chlamydial infection were analysed in dogs of various breeds, ages and sexes, including mixed-breed co m panion animals. In 2024, 22 positive cases were recorded, while in 2025 this number increased to 31. It was established that c a nine chlamydiosis manifested in five clinical forms: polyarthritic, dermatological, respiratory, intestinal and genital. The article presents the results of a comprehensive study focused on the differential diagnosis of the polyarthritic and dermatological forms of canine chlamydiosis. The relevance of the study is determined by the polymorphism of clinical manifestations of chlamydial infection and the difficulty of distinguishing it from other infectious, inflammatory and non-infectious diseases affecting the joints and skin. Particular attention was paid to differentiating the polyarthritic and cutaneous forms of chlamydiosis from conditions such as Lyme disease, bacterial and viral arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint diseases, traumatic arthritis, demodic o sis, dermatophytosis, bacterial pyoderma, as well as endocrine and allergic dermatoses. Differential diagnosis was based on the analysis of clinical signs, the characteristics of synovial effusion, haematological parameters, and the results of radiographic, ultrasonographic and specific laboratory investigations. The final diagnosis of canine chlamydiosis was established on the basis of an integrated assessment of clinical findings and the results of haematological, serological, radiographic and immunological examinations (ELISA). The obtained results made it possible to systematise the main diagnostic criteria and to propose alg o rithms for the differential diagnosis of polyarthritic and dermatological manifestations of chlamydiosis in dogs. The proposed approaches may be applied in veterinary practice to improve the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis.References
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