Detection of Chlamydiaceae in Swiss wild birds sampled at a bird rehabilitation centre

Abstract

BackgroundAnnually, 800–1500 wild birds are admitted to the rehabilitation centre of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Lucerne, Switzerland. The workers of the centre come in close contact with the avian patients and might therefore be exposed to zoonotic agents shed by these birds, such as Chlamydia psittaci.MethodsIn the present study, 91 choanal, 91 cloacal and 267 faecal swabs from 339 wild birds of 42 species were investigated using a stepwise diagnostic approach.ResultsChlamydiaceae were detected in 0.9 per cent (0.3–2.6 per cent) of birds (n=3), all of them members of the Columbidae family. The Chlamydiaceae species of two of these birds (one Eurasian collared dove, one fancy pigeon) were identified as C psittaci types B and E by PCR and outer membrane protein A genotyping.ConclusionThe findings of the current study suggest that zoonotic transmission of Chlamydiaceae is very unlikely for songbird and waterfowl species tested herein, while pigeons might pose a risk to workers at rehabilitation centres.

Low occurrence of Salmonella spp. in wild birds from a Swiss rehabilitation centre

“…Age and body condition of the birds were determined by an experienced ornithologist and veterinarian. Birds were housed and cages cleaned and disinfected as detailed by Stalder et al 12 Swabs (Transwab Amies sterile, with Amies medium MW170; HuberLab) were taken of freshly passed faeces from a sterile surface or -in the case of dead birds -collected from the cloaca. Swabs were taken within the first 24 h after arrival of the birds at the station and prior to any treatment with antibiotics.…”

A Review of Chlamydial Infections in Wild Birds

“…While many of the avian C. psittaci genotypes were initially isolated from captive populations, several of these genotypes have also been found in wild birds [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Genotypes E and B are particularly common in feral pigeons ( Columbia livia domestica ) [ 30 , 31 ]. Genotype A has been isolated from a diverse range of wild hosts, including parrots (e.g., crimson rosellas ( Platycercus elegans ) and galahs ( Eolophus roseicapillus )) [ 32 , 33 ], passerines (including robins ( Erithacus rubecula ), dunnocks ( Prunella modularis ) and great tits ( Parus major )), raptors (including Eurasian sparrowhawks ( Accipiter nisus ) and common buzzards ( Buteo buteo )) [ 34 ], and fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis ) [ 30 , 35 ].…”

“…In Australia, C. psittaci has been isolated from an individual spotted dove ( Streptopelia chinensis ), and a strain primarily associated with Columbiformes was also isolated from infected equine samples [ 72 ]. The majority of C. psittaci strains identified in wild pigeons and doves across Europe are in genotypes B and E [ 30 , 31 , 47 ], and genotype B has also been identified in pigeons in Thailand [ 71 ]. C. avium has now also been identified in several feral pigeon populations in Europe [ 39 , 47 , 48 ] at prevalences ranging from 0.9% to 36.6% [ 47 , 48 ], with one study in the Netherlands detecting C. avium at a higher prevalence than C. psittaci [ 48 ].…”

“…Estimates of chlamydial prevalence have varied greatly between studies, even within the same host lineages (family or order). For example, across the Passeriformes, Chlamydiaceae prevalence was only 0–0.4% in some European surveillance studies [ 30 , 31 ]. In contrast, chlamydial prevalence has also been reported at 23% (5/22 positive) in the Passeriformes [ 52 ] and prevalence as high as 54% reported within the Paridae family [ 80 ].…”

“…While C. psittaci and other chlamydial species have been detected across a wide host range, there are host species and studies in which very few or no birds have tested positive ( Table 1 ). In two of the larger surveillance studies carried out in the last five years (in Switzerland and Australia), less than 1% of wild birds tested positive for C. psittaci or other Chlamydia [ 31 , 32 ]. Each study tested more than 40 different species from more than 20 families, a combined total of more than 600 individuals [ 31 , 32 ].…”