Genetic Diversity and Epizootiology ofChlamydophila psittaciPrevalent among the Captive and Feral Avian Species Based on VD2 Region ofompAGene

Abstract

To study genetic diversity and occurrence of Chlamydophila psittaci, a total of 1,147 samples from 11 avian orders including 53 genera and 113 species of feral and captive birds were examined using ompA gene based nested PCR. Three types of chlamydiae: C. psittaci (94.12%), C. abortus (4.41%) and unknown Chlamydophila sp. (1.47%) were identified among 68 (5.93%) positive samples (Psittaciformes‐59, Ciconiiformes‐8 and Passeriformes‐1). Based on nucleotide sequence variations in the VD2 region of ompA gene, all 64 detected C. psittaci strains were grouped into 4 genetic clusters. Clusters I, II, III and IV were detected from 57.35%, 19.12%, 10.29% and 7.35% samples respectively. A single strain of unknown Chlamydophila sp. was found phylogenetically intermediate between Chlamydophila species infecting avian and mammalian hosts. Among Psittaciformes, 28 out of 81 tested species including 10 species previously unreported were found to be chlamydiae positive. Chlamydiosis was detected among 8.97% sick and 48.39% dead birds as well 4.43% clinically normal birds. Therefore, it was observed that though various genetically diverse chlamydiae may cause avian chlamydiosis, only a few C. psittaci strains are highly prevalent and frequently associated with clinical/subclinical infections.

Dissemination and genetic diversity of chlamydial agents in Polish wildfowl: Isolation and molecular characterisation of avian Chlamydia abortus strains

“…While representatives of avian C . abortus were rarely encountered in previous studies [10–11, 16, 41], the present study shows for the first time that avian genotypes of C . abortus strains are actively circulating in wild bird populations.…”

Chlamydophila felisCF0218 Is a Novel TMH Family Protein with Potential as a Diagnostic Antigen for Diagnosis ofC. felisInfection

“…The cDNA was amplified by PCR using each primer. Custom primer sets specific for C. felis cf0218 (5Ј-CGGGA TCCATGACAACAAACTCATTG-3Ј and 5Ј-GCGTCGACTTAATTAGCGTC ATCATT-3Ј) were used to detect cf0218-specific message, whereas previously described primers were used to examine levels of Chlamydophila ompA (CMGP-2F, 5Ј-GCCTTAAACATCTGGGATCG-3Ј, and CMGP-2R, 5Ј-GCACAACCA CATTCCCATAAAG-3Ј) (8). C. felis genomic DNA was used as a positive control, and total RNA samples without reverse transcription were used as controls for DNA contamination.…”

Detection of Chlamydophila psittaci by Using SYBR Green Real-Time PCR

“…Parrot, parakeet and feral pigeon are the best known as representative natural hosts. Recently, we reported that 6.0% of pet birds (11 avian orders) in Japan were positive for C. psittaci [3]. Wild birds, especially pigeon, can serve as a source of human psittacosis [18,27].…”

“…The sensitivity of the real-time PCR was compared with that of the nested PCR routinely used in our laboratory for clinical diagnosis [3]. Template DNA samples extracted from feces and PBS containing known titers of EB as described above were analyzed by nested PCR.…”

“…Recently, real-time PCR assay has become more widely used as a major diagnostic test. Conventional PCR analysis including nested PCR [3] and PCRrestriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) [17,26] confirm only the presence of a pathogen and take a long time for detection, because they require gel electrophoresis to confirm the presence of PCR products after PCR [25]. On the other hand, present real-time PCR techniques can quantify and detect a pathogen more rapidly than conventional PCR.…”