Naghmeh-Moori Bakhtiari

Bio: Naghmeh-Moori Bakhtiari is an academic researcher from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chlamydiales & Psittacosis. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 6 citations.

Detection of Chlamydophila psittaci from pigeons by polymerase chain reaction in Ahvaz.

Abstract: Background and Objective : Chlamydophila psittaci is a lethal bacterium that causes endemic avian chlamydiosis, and respiratory psittacosis. Laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydophila psittaci is difficult by culture. This study was design to investigate the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci in collected pharyngeal swabs from asyptomatic pigeons by PCR. Materials and Methods : Pharyngeal samples from pigeons with no symptoms of disease (n=280) were collected during hot and cold seasons in different parts of Ahvaz. DNA was extracted from specimens and subjected to PCR targeting pmp genes and 16s-23s rRNA intergenic spacer of Cp. psittaci and chlamydiales specific primers. Results : Of 280 samples 2 (0.7%) harbor were positive for chlamydiales (16s-23s intergenic spacer) and Cp. psittaci specific genes (pmp gene). Conclusions : In this research the pigeons were asymptomatic carriers for Cp. psittaci in their respiratory discharges. These results suggest that Cp. psittaci infection of human can occur in very close and continuous contact with pigeons.

The role of zoonotic chlamydial agents in ruminants abortion.

Abstract: Background and Objectives: Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) is caused by infection of sheep and goats by Chlamydia abortus bacterium. Chlamydial abortion in bovine could occur by Chlamydia abortus, Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pecorum. C. psittaci is the causative agent of psittacosis or ornithosis disease in humans and birds. It also causes acute pneumonia in cattle and sheep. The present study aimed at surveying the role of chlamydial agents in ruminants abortion. Materials and Methods: A total of 117 aborted material samples (Cotyledon, liver, spleen, and abomasal contents of fetus) from 9 cattle and 100 sheep in Shahr-e-Kord and 8 sheep from Bagh-e-Malek were collected from different herds with abortion history during the lambing periods from 2014 to 2016. After DNA extraction, the samples were tested by species-specific PCR to detect C. abortus, C. pecorum and C. psittaci. Results: Out of 117 clinical sample (108 sheep and 9 cattle), chlamydial infection was detected in 66 (56.41%) samples by Chlamydiales order-specific primers. A total of 24 (36.36%) and 24 (36.36%) samples indicated positive forms of C. abortus and C. psittasi infections, respectively. Only 1 (1.5%) C. pecorum was identified from cattle using nested PCR during this study. Among 66 Chlamydiales - positive samples, 20 (30.30%) samples with coinfection of C. abortus and C. psittaci were detected, however, infection of 3 species was not detected in the samples. Conclusion: Because of the high percentage of chlamydial infection in these regions and probability of coinfection, conducting epidemiological studies on the role of different animals is highly recommended.

Avian Chlamydiosis: A World-wide Emerging and Public Health Threat

Abstract: | Avian chlamydiosis is a respiratory disease affecting all types of birds and mammals. It is a disease of public health importance as it severely affects human being. The disease is mainly caused by Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) which is obligatory intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. Other species of Chlamydia like C. gallinacea and C. avium have been recorded. All avian species including psittacine, domestic and wild birds are susceptible to infection with C. psittaci. Infection is usually occur through inhalation or ingestion of infected droplets or direct contact with infected or carrier birds. Avian chalmydiosis in psittacine birds or human is called psittacosis or parrot fever while in commercial domestic poultry is known as ornithosis. The clinical picture of C. Psittaciin birds is mainly respiratory and/or enteric and sometimes nervous. Infection of human with C. Psittaci is usually acquired from direct contact with infected living birds or carcasses. The disease in human starts as fever and headache, changes to cough difficult respiration and may death. Diagnosis of the disease in birds is based on the clinical picture as well as detection of the causative agent. Isolation, identification as well as serological monitoring of Chlamydia species are crucial for the disease diagnosis. Controlling of avian chlamydiosis depends on specific treatment of the infected birds using teteracyclines for long time. There is no available vaccine to Chlamydia species in birds till now. Quarantine and testing of imported pet birds are the must for prevention of avian chlamydiosis. From the all mentioned above, this review article gives an overview on avian chlamydiosis considering the incidence especially in Egypt and some Middle East countries, causative agent, susceptibility, infection and transmission, the clinical picture in birds and human, diagnosis as well as prevention and control.

Circulation des Chlamydiaceae en filières avicoles, exposition des professionnels et étude de la survie de Chlamydia psittaci

Abstract: La chlamydiose aviaire, causee par la bacterie Chlamydia psittaci, represente un risque zoonotique important. L’infection chez l’animal est principalement asymptomatique, mais chez l’Homme elle peut entrainer des pneumopathies atypiques severes et causer la mort dans les cas les plus graves. Les personnes infectees sont principalement celles exposees regulierement a des oiseaux, particulierement dans le cadre professionnel. En France, de nombreux cas humains sont lies a une exposition a des canards Mulard, espece utilisee pour la production du foie gras. Afin d’evaluer la prevalence des Chlamydiaceae chez les volailles et de caracteriser les souches circulantes, des suivis ont ete realises a differents stades de l’elevage (couvoir, pre-gavage et gavage pour la filiere canard, et abattoirs impliques dans l’abattage de differentes especes aviaires). Des prelevements d’air et de poussieres ainsi que des suivis serologiques et biologiques de personnels volontaires ont ete effectues en parallele afin d’evaluer l’exposition des professionnels travaillant au contact des volailles. Des prelevements environnementaux ainsi que des essais in vitro visant a etudier la survie de C. psittaci ont ete realises afin de tenter de mieux caracteriser les voies de contamination des oiseaux, ce qui pourrait, a terme, permettre de maitriser le risque de contamination par C. psittaci chez l’animal et donc de reduire l’exposition des professionnels. Les resultats ont demontre une prevalence importance de C. psittaci chez le canard Mulard, au contraire des autres volailles qui hebergent tres majoritairement C. gallinacea. L’exposition des professionnels aux Chlamydia est reelle, tout au long du processus d’elevage des volailles, mais plus particulierement en elevages de canards Mulard et a l’abattoir, aussi il convient pour les professionnels de se proteger a chaque contact avec les animaux. L’hypothese d’une contamination environnementale des animaux se fait de plus en plus claire, avec notamment la mise en evidence d’un lien existant entre les procedures de nettoyage et desinfection et l’excretion des canards, la description de la survie de C. psittaci en dehors de tout hote vivant, ou encore la mise en evidence d’une possible survie de C. psittaci au sein d’A. castellanii. La mise au point de moyens de lutte efficaces permettant de reduire voire de supprimer l’excretion chez les volailles est egalement necessaire, dans le but de diminuer l’exposition des professionnels

Bayesian evaluation of the performance of three diagnostic tests for Chlamydophila psittaci in humans

Abstract: Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) remains a significant threat to the health of farming communities in close contact with psittacine birds yet its infection burden remains poorly understood owing to the low accuracy of available diagnostic tests. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of chicken embryo (CEI) and mice inoculation (MI) tests and a PCR assay for the detection of C. psittaci in humans. Sputum specimens from 70 Egyptian individuals in contact with psittacine birds were screened for the presence of the pathogen using the three tests. A Bayesian latent class model was used to estimate the Se and Sp of the three tests. The PCR assay had a higher Se (85%; PCI 42.4% - 99.4%) than CEI (68.5%; PCI 24.6% - 95.6%) and MI (47.0%; PCI 12.3% - 85.1%) tests together with a higher Sp (98.9%; PCI 94.1% - 100%) than CEI (98.6%; PCI 93.8% - 99.9%) and MI (98.6%; PCI 93.8% - 99.9%) tests. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at evaluating the accuracy of these tests for the detection of C. psittaci in humans. The PCR assay clearly outperforms the inoculation tests and hence holds better promise for routine use in surveillance programs for psittacosis.

Survey on Carrier State of Sheep in Chlamydia pecorum Infection

Abstract: Over the last 40 years, evidence has accumulated to suggest the ubiquitous presence of infections with intracellular bacteria of the genus Chlamydia in different livestock species. Different methods to clinical specimens substantiated such widespread, but mostly clinically unapparent, presumably low-level infections. In this initial epidemiological study, we addressed the question of chlamydial infection of conjunctiva and genital tract in apparently healthy sheep. In this research, 33 sheep and 20 goats which had previously been exposed to the possibility of sexual transmission of Chlamydia, examined by conjunctiva (53 swabs) and vaginal swab (53 swabs). After DNA extraction by boiling method, presence of Chlamydia pecorum was investigated by nested PCR. Chlamydia pecorum strain W73 was used as positive control. In this research, 10 infected swab samples (from 106 swab samples) contain of 7 vaginal (70%) and 3 conjunctival swabs (30%) were detected. All positive vaginal swabs and 3 positive conjunctival swabs were related to aborted and adult animals, respectively. According to higher percentage of Chlamydia pecorum infection in apparently healthy sheep,carrier state in sheep is more probable than goats. Vaginal secretion is more important route of chlamydial infection dissemination towards conjunctival secretion. Because of high risk of chlamydial infection in cows, attention to role of sheep in disease epidemiology was recommended.