Genetic diversity ofChlamydiaamong captive birds from central Argentina

Abstract

To study the occurrence of Chlamydia spp. and their genetic diversity, we analysed 793 cloacal swabs from 12 avian orders, including 76 genera, obtained from 80 species of asymptomatic wild and captive birds that were examined with conventional nested polymerase chain reaction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Chlamydia spp. were not detected in wild birds; however, four species (Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia gallinacea) were identified among captive birds (Passeriformes, n = 20; Psittaciformes, n = 15; Rheiformes, n = 8; Falconiformes n = 2; Piciformes n = 2; Anseriformes n = 1; Galliformes n = 1; Strigiformes n = 1). Two pathogens (C. pneumoniae and C. pecorum) were identified simultaneously in samples obtained from captive birds. Based on nucleotide-sequence variations of the ompA gene, three C. psittaci-positive samples detected were grouped into a cluster with the genotype WC derived from mammalian hosts. A single positive sample was phylogenetically related to a new strain of C. gallinacea. This report contributes to our increasing understanding of the abundance of Chlamydia in the animal kingdom.

Chlamydiae in corvids

“…In this respect, Chlamydia abortus , Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae have been detected in birds (Pantchev and others 2009, Sachse and others 2012, Frutos and others 2015). Recently, two new bacterial species belonging to the Chlamydiaceae family have been described: Chlamydia avium from pigeons and psittacine birds and Chlamydia gallinacea from poultry (Sachse and others 2014).…”

First report of caprine abortions due to Chlamydia abortus in Argentina

“…In Argentina, a previous study of Chlamydia spp. responsible for infections in wild and captive birds detected Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia gallinacea and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Frutos et al 2015). Recently Rojas et al (2018) detected Chlamydiaceae DNA in 12 samples of 251 bovine aborted fetuses (4.78%) and C. abortus was detected in five of the studied cases (1.99%).…”

“…responsible for infections in wild and captive birds detected Chlamydia psittaci , Chlamydia pecorum , Chlamydia gallinacea and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Frutos et al . ). Recently Rojas et al .…”

Evidencia de Chlamydia no psittaci en psitácidos en cautiverio de Venezuela

“…C. pneumoniae en inicio fue considerado un patógeno exclusivamente humano; sin embargo, puede causar infecciones oculares, respiratorias y urogenitales en koalas, equinos, anfibios y reptiles. C. pecorum ocasiona infecciones genitales que pueden ser transmitidas por vía sexual, siendo aislada en semen y muestras de heces de porcinos (11). C. suis, C. felis, C. muridarum y C. caviae conforman el resto de las especies chlamydiales (7,8).…”

“…De forma reiterada se han producido aislados de Chlamydia no psittaci en aves de vida libre y cautiverio, como C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, C. pecorum y C. abortus detectadas en passeriformes, psitaciformes, columbiformes y en humanos (11,16,17), así como la detección del genotipo WC de Cp en passeriformes de vida libre (11). De este modo, se manifiesta la capacidad evolutiva de la familia Chlamydiaceae, en la que Cp era la única especie causante de infecciones aviares y ahora otras chlamydias se están adaptando a huéspedes susceptibles.…”