<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: an emerging cause of equine abortion and fatal neonatal illness in south‐eastern Australia

El‐Hage, Charles; Gilkerson, James

doi:10.1002/vetr.3739

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…Also, the prevalence of C. psittaci has been evaluated in healthy mares/foals [ 15 ]. Horses are considered occasional hosts of C. psittaci , and the infection has been associated with pneumonia, conjunctivitis, and abortion [ 16 ]. In the literature, it is clearly stated that C. psittaci is a known cause of equine abortion and reproductive loss, and the association between C. psittaci and equine abortion has been evaluated with zoonotic implications for humans [ 2 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Genital Tract of Horses and in Environmental Samples: A Pilot Study in Sardinia

Muroni,

Serra,

Biggio

et al. 2024

Pathogens

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The members of the Chlamydiaceae family are important pathogens that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Among them, Chlamydia psittaci, historically considered as an avian agent, has recently been identified in livestock, primarily sheep and cattle, but also in horses, with the infection being linked to reproductive disorders, such as abortion, absorption of embryos, stillbirth, and the birth of weak foals. Much less is known about chlamydial infections in the Sardinian equine population. This study aimed to identify the chlamydial diversity in genital samples from asymptomatic Sardinian horses. However, some horses had a previous history of reproductive disorders, i.e., abortion and infertility. A total of 60 horses (39 mares and 21 stallions) were opportunistically recruited from 17 equine farms in central-northern Sardinia. Vaginal and uterine swabs from mares and urethral swabs and seminal fluid from stallions were sampled for the presence of chlamydial DNA. Samples from environments where the horses lived were also tested for the detection of Chlamydia spp. Eight vaginal swabs (8/39; 20%), two uterine swabs (2/27; 7%), two seminal fluid samples (2/20; 10%), and one urethral swab (1/21; 4.7%) were found to be positive for Chlamydia spp. by PCR analysis. In addition, results from environmental samples showed the presence of Chlamydia spp. in three environmental swabs (3/8; 37.5%) and five water samples (5/16; 31.2%). Sequencing results revealed that strains here identified were 99–100% similar to members belonging to the Chlamydiaceae family, including C. abortus, C. psittaci, and uncultured Chlamydia genotypes. ompA species-specific PCR performed on samples was found to be positive after 16S rRNA amplification gave positive results for C. psittaci. These results reveal the first presence of C. psittaci in the genital tract of horses and in the environment in Sardinia and indicate that this pathogen could be the prevailing cause of infertility and abortion in the tested equines. However, these findings need further proof and highlight the importance of adopting a ‘One Health’ approach to control the presence of this zoonotic bacteria in domestic animals in order to understand its impact on people exposed to the infection risk.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Genital Tract of Horses and in Environmental Samples: A Pilot Study in Sardinia

Muroni,

Serra,

Biggio

et al. 2024

Pathogens

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An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine

Li,

et al. 2024

Animals

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Equine breeding plays an essential role in the local economic development of many countries, and it has experienced rapid growth in China in recent years. However, the equine industry, particularly large-scale donkey farms, faces a significant challenge with pregnancy losses. Unfortunately, there is a lack of systematic research on abortion during equine breeding. Several causes, both infectious and non-infectious, of pregnancy losses have been documented in equines. The infectious causes are viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Non-infectious causes may include long transportation, ingestion of mycotoxins, hormonal disturbances, twinning, placentitis, umbilical length and torsion, etc. In current review, we discuss the transmission routes, diagnostic methods, and control measures for these infectious agents. Early detection of the cause and appropriate management are crucial in preventing pregnancy loss in equine practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential causes of abortion in equines, including infectious agents and non-infectious factors. It emphasizes the importance of continued research and effective control measures to address this significant challenge in the equine industry.

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Chlamydia psittaci: an emerging cause of equine abortion and fatal neonatal illness in south‐eastern Australia

Cited by 2 publications

References 22 publications

Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Genital Tract of Horses and in Environmental Samples: A Pilot Study in Sardinia

Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Genital Tract of Horses and in Environmental Samples: A Pilot Study in Sardinia

An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine

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