Detection and molecular characterization of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus in psittacine pet birds in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Abstract

In order to determine the presence and genetic diversity of Chlamydia spp. in the north-eastern area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, conjunctival, oropharyngeal, cloacal swab and tissues were collected from a total of 90 psittacine pet birds of different age and clinical manifestations. Through molecular methods, Chlamydiaceae was detected in 30% (27/90) of the samples, out of which 70.3% (19/27) were positive for Chlamydia psittaci and 14.9% (4/27) for Chlamydia abortus. Nine C. psittaci positive samples were genotyped by ompA gene sequences, 8 clustered within genotype A and 1 within genotype B. A significant association was observed between the presence of Chlamydia spp. and the manifestation of clinical signs compatible with chlamydiosis, as well as with the age of the birds (younger than one year old). This report contributes to the improvement of our understanding of chlamydial agents in our country.

Recent advances and public health implications for environmental exposure to Chlamydia abortus: from enzootic to zoonotic disease

“…Seroprevalence studies have further highlighted the wider species distribution of the infection, which also extends to wildfowl [ 154 ], psittacids [ 155 ], chickens [ 156 ], llamas [ 147 ], fur animals [ 157 ], yaks [ 158 – 160 ], deer [ 161 ] and dolphins [ 162 ]. In chickens, a study conducted by Szymańska-Czerwińska et al (2017) identified a seroprevalence of 15.4% at flock level, and this species is thought to represent an asymptomatic carrier [ 156 ] which could be relevant for environmental contamination and risk of zoonosis.…”

“…In Argentina, a study conducted by Origlia et al in 2019, provided the first description of psittacine pet birds infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. Although this evidence needs to be confirmed by additional studies, a new hypothesis has been formulated regarding the possibility that these animals also represent a reservoir of C. abortus [ 155 ]. Finally, intermediate C. psittaci/C.…”

Emerging and well‐characterized chlamydial infections detected in a wide range of wild Australian birds

“…Despite being characterized as primarily an ovine pathogen, C. abortus has also been detected in chickens and various wildfowl in Poland , and parrots from Argentina (Origlia et al, 2019). Furthermore, recent molecular analyses have revealed C. psittaci strain 84/2334, isolated from an imported, yellowcrowned Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala) from Germany, and Polish wildfowl C. abortus strains, are phylogenetically related.…”

“…Traditionally, C. abortus is an economically significant ruminant pathogen with zoonotic potential causing ovine enzootic abortions (Borel et al., 2018 ). Despite being characterized as primarily an ovine pathogen, C. abortus has also been detected in chickens and various wildfowl in Poland (Szymańska‐Czerwińska, Mitura, Niemczuk, et al., 2017 ; Szymańska‐Czerwińska, Mitura, Zaręba, et al., 2017 ), and parrots from Argentina (Origlia et al., 2019 ). Furthermore, recent molecular analyses have revealed C. psittaci strain 84/2334, isolated from an imported, yellow‐crowned Amazon parrot ( Amazona ochrocephala ) from Germany, and Polish wildfowl C. abortus strains, are phylogenetically related.…”

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia abortus and risk factors in cattle from Villavicencio, Colombia

“…The presence of canines was a risk factor in this study; similar results were observed in Ethiopia ( Alemayehu et al., 2021 ). Different studies have shown the presence of C. abortus in horses, goats, pigs, foxes and birds ( Origlia et al., 2019 ; Rubio-Navarrete et al., 2017 ; Schautteet and Vanrompay, 2011 ). More recently, its presence was reported in wild animals in captivity in the suburbs of the city of Changchun, China ( Li et al., 2018 ), these findings evidencing the possibility of multiple transmission routes.…”