engleski

Urban pigeons in the City of Zagreb – a possible source of Chlamydophila psittaci infection in human

The infection caused by Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) can be transmitted from urban pigeons to human, and therefore represents an important public health problem in numerous European cities. During the 2006 occurrence of the C. psittaci infection in the City of Zagreb (Croatia) was examined on altogether 787 adult urban pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica). Pigeons were caught in 9 different city districts, especially in those where pigeon’ s population is the highest and the contact with the people more common. So-called “ triple swabs” (from conjunctiva, pharynx and cloaca) were taken from all pigeons and examined for the presence of C. psittaci antigen. At the same time 254 blood sera were tested for the presence of antibodies against C. psittaci. For the laboratory examination commercial ELISA kits were used, for detection of specific C. psittaci antigen - IDEIATM PCE Chlamydia kit (DAKO Cytomation Ltd., United Kingdom) and for the C. psittaci antibodies - RIDASCREEN&reg ; ; Chlamydia psittaci (R- Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany). The results were interpreted according to Gerbermann et al. (1997). Results obtained by this comprehensive investigation revealed altogether 120 (15.25%) of examined pigeons to be positive for C. psittaci antigen. Blood sera from 240 pigeons (94.86%) contained antibodies against C. psittaci and were classified as high positive. Especially high numbers of antigen positive birds were detected in East (28%) and West parts of the city (28%). In the East district the city dump yard is located, what represent the place were urban pigeons can come in closer contact with infectious agents. In other districts, located in North and South parts of the City, where there is also the City Center, from 3% up to 13% of pigeon were found positive, respectively. Obviously the pigeons that inhabit the central and peripheral districts of the City of Zagreb are often infected with C. psittaci, and can serve as the source of the infection for poultry that is kept as small backyard flocks. High prevalence of C. psittaci positive pigeons in the City Center represent direct treat for the citizens.

Chlamydophila psittaci; infection; pigeon; human

nije evidentirano