Determination of the Prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci by PCR in Iranian Pigeons
28 Sep 2011-International Journal of Biology (Canadian Center of Science and Education)-Vol. 3, Iss: 4, pp 79
TL;DR: The results indicate that pigeon feces are a source of several zoonotic agents for humans, bird and animals and it is suggested that continuous surveys can estimate, and thus help to minimize the risk of humans contracting diseases from pigeons.
Abstract: Many areas in Iran such as parks and gardens can be highly contaminated with pigeon feces. Chlamydia psittaci is a lethal bacterial that causes endemic avian chlamydiosis, epizootic outbreaks in mammals, and respiratory psittacosis in humans. Chlamydia psittaci strains in birds infect mucosal epithelial cells and macrophages of the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to determination of prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci in feces of pigeons in Iran using PCR assay. DNA was extracted from 445 fecal samples of pigeons. The prevalence of this pathogen was 14.3% in region of this study. These results indicate that pigeon feces are a source of several zoonotic agents for humans, bird and animals. We suggested that continuous surveys can estimate, and thus help to minimize the risk of humans contracting diseases from pigeons. Keywords: Chlamydia psittaci, pigeon, PCR
Citations
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TL;DR: Presence of zoonotic agents in feral pigeons highlights the importance of surveillance programs on this species, although the relative low prevalence found suggests a limited risk to Public and Animal Health in Madrid.
7 citations
TL;DR: Pet birds could act as potential reservoirs for zoonotic bacterial pathogens; thus, posing a risk to their human contacts, according to this study.
Abstract: Bacterial pathogens carried by pet birds are considered a risk for birds, workers, and pet owners. This study investigated the potential of pet birds as reservoirs for virulent multidrug-resistant (MDR) zoonotic bacteria and assessed the genetic relatedness and diversity of bacterial isolates from pet birds and human contacts. Cloacal and tracheal swabs from 125 pet birds and 70 hand swabs from human contacts were collected. The results revealed that the pet birds were reservoirs for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.6 %, each), and Staphylococcus aureus (15.2 %). These isolates were also identified in their human contacts, at percentages of 14.3 %, 12.9 %, and 24.3 %, respectively. Virulence associated genes were identified from E. coli (stx2, stx2f, eaeA, and hlyA), K. pneumoniae (fimH, TraT, and magA), and S. aureus (PVL, hly, sea, sed genes) isolates. Multidrug-resistant E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus were highly prevalent (81.3 %, 90.3 %, and 61.1 %, respectively). The genetic relationship between the E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates from the pet birds and human contacts were determined by ERIC-PCR, while, RAPD-PCR was used for the S. aureus isolates. ERIC-PCR was found to have the highest discriminatory power. The clustering of the isolates from the pet birds and human contacts indicated potential transmission between the birds and workers. In conclusion, pet birds could act as potential reservoirs for zoonotic bacterial pathogens; thus, posing a risk to their human contacts.
5 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The fact that pigeons serve as carriers of C. psittaci in the blood, liver and muscle tissue of urban pigeons in Iran supports the fact that this bacterium is a widespread pathogenic bacterium in pigeons.
Abstract: Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) is a widespread pathogenic bacterium in pigeons. These animals are mostly infected without any clinical signs. Pigeons are probably the most commonly reported chlamydia-infected avian species. Shedding of Chlamydia from infected birds has been widely reported. This study was conducted to detect and to determine the prevalence of C. psittaci in the blood, liver and muscle tissue of urban pigeons in Iran using conventional polymerase chain reaction. In this study, authors used 90 pigeons from different retail shops across Iran. The study was including 26 female and 64 male pigeons with suspected Chlamydiosis based on clinical signs. During examination of the corpses we took 270 samples in total, including blood, liver and muscle tissue from each animal. C. psittaci was detected in 16 (17.78%) blood samples, 14 (15.56%) liver samples and 5 (5.56%) samples of muscle tissue. This study supports the fact that pigeons serve as carriers of C. psittaci. Therefore, continuous surveillance of this bacterium will go along way in understanding the distribution and risks associated with Chlamydia infected pigeons. This will be beneficial in prevention and control risks of infection in humans.
5 citations
Cites background from "Determination of the Prevalence of ..."
...[27] and Doosti and Arshi [23] but, lower than 23....
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...%) were closely similar to that reported by Hedemma et al.[14], Doosti et al.[27] and Doosti and Arshi [23] but, lower than 23.5% reported by Madani et al.[24] in Iran....
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...[27], Doosti and Arshi [23] and Madani et al....
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...Available reports such as Doosti et al.[27], Doosti and Arshi [23] and Madani et al.[24], have all worked on the detection from cloacal swabs and fecal droppings....
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24 Nov 2018
TL;DR: The PCR assay clearly outperforms the inoculation tests and hence holds better promise for routine use in surveillance programs for psittacosis.
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.
3 citations
Cites methods from "Determination of the Prevalence of ..."
...3) (Doosti and Arshi, 2011)....
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...The ompA region of the extracted DNA was amplified by PCR using the primers: CPsitt-F (5 ́GCTACGGGTTCCGCTCT-3 ́) and CPsitt-R (5 ́TTTGTTGATYTGAATCGAAGC-3 ́) (Doosti and Arshi, 2011)....
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...The ompA region of the extracted DNA was amplified by PCR using the primers: CPsitt-F (5΄- GCTACGGGTTCCGCTCT-3΄) and CPsitt-R (5΄TTTGTTGATYTGAATCGAAGC-3΄) (Doosti and Arshi, 2011)....
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TL;DR: This study showed no C. psittaci infection in the turkey population in Iran, and recommends investigation on otherfarm animals and wild populations for possible chlamydial infection and for better understanding of the source and epidemiology of this agent.
Abstract: Background: Avian chlamydiosis is a zoonotic disease ofbirds caused by the intracellular bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Avianchlamydiosis leads to severe respiratory disease in young turkeys and eggproduction losses in layers. OBJECTIVES: Due to paucity of information about theprevalence of chlamydial infection in the turkey population in Iran, this studywas conducted to detect chlamydial infection in some Iranian turkey flocks indifferent provinces. METHODS: A total of 177 samples were taken from turkeysand first verified as Chlamydiaceae by Chlamydiaceae-specificreal-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) by detection of the 23S RNAgene of Chlamydiaceae (Ct values ranging from 34 to 38) and thenpositive samples were investigated for the presence of C. psittaci by anested PCR. RESULTS: Seventeen of 177 samples (9.6%), correspondingto 13 farms of 48 examined farms were positive for Chlamydiaceae byreal-time PCR. None of the positive samples were found to be C. psittaciin the nested PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no C. psittaciinfection in the turkey population in Iran. We recommend investigation on otherfarm animals and wild populations for possible chlamydial infection and forbetter understanding of the source and epidemiology of this agent. Due to thechallenges that exist for sampling and the relevant impact on reducing positivesamples, investigation by parallel and complementary techniques may be usefulin showing the true prevalence of infection in the target populations
3 citations
Additional excerpts
...Previous research in Iran avian/poultry population showed 12.6% Chlamydia psittaci infection in companion and wild birds (Madani et al., 2011) and 14.3% in Pigeons (Doosti and Arshi, 2011)....
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References
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TL;DR: The C. pecorum strains were distinguished from C. psittaci strains by the results of immunological assays, including an immunofluorescence antibody assay performed with monoclonal antibodies and an immunoblot analysis of the immunological specificity of the major outer membrane protein.
Abstract: Chlamydia pecorum sp. nov. is proposed as the fourth species of the genus Chlamydia on the basis of the results of a genetic analysis of Chlamydia strains that were isolated from cattle and sheep which had various diseases, including sporadic encephalitis, infectious polyarthritis, pneumonia, and diarrhea. The levels of DNA-DNA homology between C. pecorum and strains of C. psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia trachomatis were less than 10%. Several DNA probes were used to identify C. pecorum. The C. pecorum strains were distinguished from C. psittaci strains by the results of immunological assays, including an immunofluorescence antibody assay performed with monoclonal antibodies and an immunoblot analysis of the immunological specificity of the major outer membrane protein. Species identification was based on results obtained from DNA analyses and serology. The type strain of C. pecorum is strain ATCC VR628.
192 citations
Additional excerpts
...Recently, a fourth species, C. pecorum, has been proposed (Fukushi & Hirai, 1992)....
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TL;DR: Although feral pigeons pose sporadic health risks to humans, the risk is very low, even for humans involved in occupations that bring them into close contact with nesting sites, and the immunocompromised patient may have a nearly 1000-fold greater risk of acquiring mycotic disease from feral pigeon and their excreta than does the general population.
177 citations
"Determination of the Prevalence of ..." refers background in this paper
...From 1941 to 2003, 78 cases in ISSN 1916-9671 E-ISSN 1916-968X 80 humans were reported (Haag-Wackernagel & Moch, 2004), due to contact with feral pigeons....
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TL;DR: Trees for all five coding genes supported the current organization of the family Chlamydiaceae, and the distribution of virulence traits could not be explained by lateral transfer of the genes the authors studied, since they found no evidence for lateral gene transfer above the species level.
Abstract: Phylogenetic analyses of surface antigens and other chlamydial proteins were used to reconstruct the evolution of the Chlamydiaceae. Trees for all five coding genes [the major outer-membrane protein (MOMP), GroEL chaperonin, KDO-transferase, small cysteine-rich lipoprotein and 60 kDa cysteine-rich protein] supported the current organization of the family Chlamydiaceae, which is based on ribosomal, biochemical, serological, ecological and DNA-DNA hybridization data. Genetic distances between some species were quite large, so phylogenies were evaluated for robustness by comparing analyses of both nucleotide and protein sequences using a variety of algorithms (neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood, maximum-parsimony with bootstrapping, and quartet puzzling). Saturation plots identified areas of the trees in which factors other than relatedness may have determined branch attachments. All nine species were clearly differentiated by distinctness ratios calculated for each gene. The distribution of virulence traits such as host and tissue tropism were mapped onto the consensus phylogeny. Closely related species were no more likely to share virulence characters than were more distantly related species. This phylogenetically disjunct distribution of virulence traits could not be explained by lateral transfer of the genes we studied, since we found no evidence for lateral gene transfer above the species level. One interpretation of this observation is that when chlamydiae gain access to a new niche, such as a new host or tissue, significant adaptation ensues and the virulence phenotype of the new species reflects adaptation to its environment more strongly than it reflects its ancestry.
151 citations
"Determination of the Prevalence of ..." refers background in this paper
...Formerly called Chlamydia, with only two recognized species 25 years ago (C. trachomatis and C. psittaci), the family now contains nine species divided into two genera, Chlamydia and Chlamydophila (Bush & Everett, 2001)....
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...Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci), an obligate intracellular, gram negative bacterium, has 7 known genotypes (A-F and E/B) (Geens et al., 2005)....
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TL;DR: This compendium provides information about psittacosis and avian chlamydiosis to public health officials, physicians, veterinarians, the pet bird industry, and others concerned with controlling these diseases and protecting public health.
Abstract: Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever and ornithosis, is a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia and other serious health problems in humans. It is caused by Chlamydia psittaci. Reclassification of the order Chlamydiales in 1999 into 2 genera (Chlamydia and Chlamydophila) was not wholly accepted or adopted. This resulted in a reversion to the single, original genus Chlamydia, which now encompasses all 9 species including Chlamydia psittaci. During 2003–2014, 112 human cases of psittacosis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. While many types of birds can be infected by C psittaci, in general, the literature suggests that human cases can most often occur after exposure to infected parrot-type birds kept as pets, especially cockatiels, parakeets, and conures. In birds, C psittaci infection is referred to as avian chlamydiosis. Infected birds shed the bacteria through feces and nasal discharges, and humans become infected from exposure to these materials. This compendium provides information about psittacosis and avian chlamydiosis to public health officials, physicians, veterinarians, the pet bird industry, and others concerned with controlling these diseases and protecting public health. The recommendations in this compendium provide standardized procedures to control C psittaci infections. This document will be reviewed and revised as necessary, and the most current version replaces all previous versions. This document was last revised in 2010. Major changes in this version include a recommendation for a shorter treatment time for birds with avian chlamydiosis, additional information about diagnostic testing, including genotyping, clearer language associated with personal protective equipment recommended for those caring for confirmed or exposed birds, and incorporating a grading scale with recommendations generally based on the United States Preventive Services Task Force's methods.
146 citations
TL;DR: Zoonotic transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci in 39 breeding facilities for Psittaciformes (cockatoos, parrots, parakeets, lories) that frequently used antimicrobial drugs is studied.
Abstract: We studied zoonotic transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci in 39 breeding facilities for Psittaciformes (cockatoos, parrots, parakeets, lories) that frequently used antimicrobial drugs. Genotypes A or E/B were detected in 14.9% of humans at these facilities. Information on antimicrobial drug use in Psittaciformes and a C. psittaci vaccine are urgently required.
131 citations
"Determination of the Prevalence of ..." refers background in this paper
...C. psittaci can infect 465 avian species in 30 avian orders, with at least 153 species in the order Psittaciformes (Vanrompay et al., 2007)....
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...psittaci can infect 465 avian species in 30 avian orders, with at least 153 species in the order Psittaciformes (Vanrompay et al., 2007)....
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...According to these findings it's suggested a vaccine and information on sensible use of antimicrobial drugs in Psittaciformes for prevent to psittacosis in humans and development of drug-resistant bacterial strains....
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