Survey on Chlamydophila psittaci in captive ramphastids in São Paulo State, Brazil (original) (raw)
Related papers
Chlamydophila psittaci infections in birds: A review with emphasis on zoonotic consequences
Veterinary Microbiology, 2009
The first part of the present review gives an overview on the history of infectious agents of the order Chlamydiales and the general infection biology of Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci, the causative agent of psittacosis. In the second part, the classification of C. psittaci strains, as well as issues of epidemiology of avian chlamydiosis., disease transmission routes, clinical disease, public health significance, present legislation and recommendations for prevention and control are reviewed.
Prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci in some Wild and Pet Birds
Zagazig Veterinary Journal, 2017
Chlamydophila psittaci is one of the most important, zoonotic pathogen of birds causing chlamydiosis. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of infection by Cp. psittaci and to determine the genotype in birds at potential risk of exposure to this pathogen. In total four species of wild birds (50 native and 40 migratory quails, 30 doves and 25 tree sparrows) and four species of pet birds, (20 Budgerigars,10 cockatiels, 3 finches, 5 love birds) were examined for the presense of Chlamydophila psittaci using impression smears stained with Giemsa stain, smears from yolk sacs were stained with Gimenez stain and PCR. The results were (80%-100%) , (85%-100%) and (80%-100%) in pet birds followed by wild birds (64%-85%) , (76%-95%) and (80%-90%), respectivelly The pathogencity of three isolates by intratracheal route with 10 6 TCID/ml in 15 days old chickens and quails was done and showed that the more pathogenic strain for chickens and quails was the pet birds strain. The observed clinical signs were respiratory signs, conjunctivitis, and diarrhea, While the pathological changes were congestion in liver, lung, spleen, and pericarditis while mild clinical and pathological changes were observed post infection by tree sparrows and migratory quails isolates. The partial ompA gene sequence of isolated Cp. psittaci strain was placed in genotype A of Cp. psittaci which had the highest identity (91.9-94%) with previously similar described strains of genotype A. Pet and wild birds were the major reservoir for Cp. psittaci which shed in their excreta and expose human and native birds to high zoonotic risk.
Clinical and molecular diagnosis of Chlamydophila in captive parrots in Pará State, Brazil
Semina: Ciências Agrárias
Parrots (Order Psittaciformes) are globally distributed birds that, together with members of the Columbiformes, represent the most susceptible animals, in regards to infection by Chlamydophila psittaci, which is an obligate, zoonotic, intracellular bacterium that causes chlamydiosis in domestic and wild birds and psittacosis in humans. The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of C. psittaci in Brazilian psittacids kept in conservation breeding sites in Pará State, Brazil. Cloacal and oropharynx swab samples were collected from 201 psittacids that were distributed among four breeding sites: Metropolitan Area of Belém (C1 and C2), Northeastern Pará (C3), and Low Amazon (C4). The samples were screened for C. psittaci using semi-nested PCR, and the resulting incidence data were analyzed using proportion and chi-square tests. Chlamydophila infection was confirmed for all the breeding sites, with an overall prevalence of 31.84%, and no species-specific predisposition was ...
Risk factors associated with Chlamydia psittaci infection in psittacine birds
Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2014
Chlamydia psittaci is the aetiological agent of chlamydiosis in birds, especially Psittaciformes. The objective of the present study was to detect C. psittaci by means of semi-nested PCR among psittacine birds sold at pet markets and kept as pet birds in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Questionnaires were used to identify risk factors involved in the epidemiology of the disease. In addition, the management of birds and cages was observed at each location studied. The frequency of C. psittaci infection was 10.6 % (33/311) in the psittacine birds studied. Birds kept in households were less frequently positive (3.4 %; 5/148) than those at pet markets (17.2 %; 28/163). Among the several factors analysed in the epidemiology of the disease, only population density (P = 0.001) and cage hygiene (P = 0.041) in birds at pet markets were significantly associated with C. psittaci infection. These results demonstrate the presence of C. psittaci infection in Psittaciformes kept as pets and held at pet m...
Detection and identification of Chlamydophila psittaci in asymptomatic parrots in Poland
BMC veterinary research, 2012
Psittacosis, an avian disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci, can manifest as an acute, protracted, or chronic illness, but can also be asymptomatic. C. psittaci can persist in the host for months to years, often without causing obvious illness, and therefore poses a threat for zoonotic outbreak. We investigated the prevalence of C. psittaci from 156 tracheal swab samples from 34 different species of parrots in Poland, and determined the genotype of strains from the positive samples. An overall prevalence of 10.3% was observed using two different PCR assays, both providing similar results. Thirteen of the PCR-positive samples were genotype A, two were genotype B, and one could not be classified. These results indicate widespread dissemination of C. psittaci in Polish psittacine populations, without any clinical signs of chlamydiosis, and hence could pose a zoonotic hazard. PCR screening provided a definitive diagnosis of psittacosis, and subsequent ompA gene analysis could be help...
Epidemiological study of Chlamydophila psittaci in pet birds in Croatia
Acta veterinaria (Beograd), 2012
A total of 411 samples from birds of different species originating from all counties of the Republic of Croatia have been tested for the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci. The sampling was conducted in pet stores, breeders' aviaries, in a specialized bird clinic and in zoos. The testing included 177 parrots, 169 pigeons, 58 canaries and 7 finches. For the detection of specific C. psittaci antigen a commercial ELISA kit was used-IDEIA TM PCE Chlamydia (DAKO Cytomation Ltd., United Kingdom). The samples that were non-specifically positive or doubtful in the ELISA test (a total of 26 samples) were analyzed also by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Diagnostic ELISA method found a total of 17.03% birds positive for chlamydiosis, and after additional testing by PCR a total of 12.65% positive ones were found. According to bird species, the most frequently positive ones were canaries and pigeons (15.52% and 13.02%), and according to the sampling location most of the positive birds were found in pet stores (16.52%), but a high percentage of positive samples were also found in breeders' aviaries (11.76%). The average positive result for chlamydiosis in 12.65% of tested birds is alarming and it confirms the importance of monitoring bird health and of prescribed legal regulations when it comes to chlamydial diseases, as well as education of persons involved in breeding, keeping or selling birds.
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2009
To determine the prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci in wild birds, cloacal swabs from 527 songbirds, 442 waterfowl, 84 feral pigeons, and 38 cormorants were examined by Chlamydiaceae-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ArrayTube microarray assays for chlamydial species determination and genotyping of C. psittaci. Inconclusive cases were further characterized by conventional PCR methods targeting the chlamydial outer membrane protein A, 16S, 23S, and intergenic spacer genes followed by sequencing of the PCR product. Swabs of 19 water birds (tufted ducks and pochards), 12 pigeons, and one songbird were tested positive by the Chlamydiaceaespecific real-time PCR. While C. psittaci genotypes B (n= 5) and E (n=1) were identified in feral pigeons (n=9), the genotype could not be identified in the remaining three cases. Sequence data of Chlamydiaceae-positive cases (n= 23; 19 waterfowl, three pigeons, one songbird) indicated the presence of nonclassified chlamydial agents (n=20) and C. psittaci (n=3) by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing. In conclusion, C. psittaci was not detected in waterfowl and songbirds, but C. psittaci proved prevalent in urban feral pigeons, where it poses a significant risk for humans.
Zoonotic infection with Chlamydia psittaci at an avian refuge centre
The Veterinary Journal, 2014
This paper reports the zoonotic transmission of Chlamydia psittaci at a wild bird refuge centre resulting in the infection of members of the staff. Pharyngeal swabs were culture positive in 26% (11/42) of the sampled birds, and molecular characterisation of isolates revealed genotypes A, B, D, and E/B. The finding reflects multiple distinct infections and highlights the endemic nature of this pathogen in avian wildlife. Two clinically normal birds being prepared for release were found to be excreting C. psittaci genotype B or E/B and viable genotype B was detected in pharyngeal swabs from 30% (3/10) of the human workers tested. The findings suggest there should be enhanced surveillance and control measures in place in bird rehabilitation centres in order to minimise the risk of both zoonoses and of re-introduction of infection back into wildlife populations.
Veterinary Microbiology, 2006
Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) infection was evaluated in 77 free-living nestlings of Blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) and Hyacinth macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Tracheal and cloacal swab samples from 32 wild parrot and 45 macaw nestlings were submitted to semi-nested PCR, while serum samples were submitted to complement fixation test (CFT). Although all 32 Amazon parrot serum samples were negative by CFT, cloacal swabs from two birds were positive for Chlamydophila DNA by semi-nested PCR (6.3%); these positive birds were 32 and 45 days old. In macaws, tracheal and cloacal swabs were positive in 8.9% and 26.7% of the samples, respectively. Complementfixing antibodies were detected in 4.8% of the macaw nestlings; macaw nestlings with positive findings were between 33 and 88 days old. These results indicate widespread dissemination of this pathogen in the two evaluated psittacine populations. No birds had clinical signs suggestive of chlamydiosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on C. psittaci in free-living Blue-fronted Amazon parrots and Hyacinth macaws in Brazil.