Isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from avian sources using growth in cell culture.

A method is described for the isolation of Chlamydia psittaci using cell culture treated with 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine, and subsequent identification by direct fluorescent antibody staining. The method was applied to 110 sets of tissues from a variety of avian specimens submitted for diagnosis. Chlamydiae were isolated and identified in 24 specimens: 13 from parrots, 7 from turkeys and 4 from pigeons.