engleski

Prevalence of Chlamydia sp. in avian samples from Croatia

Avian chlamydiosis is dangerous zoonosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci. This respiratory pathogen is able to cause pericarditis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, airsacculitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, hepatitis and splenitis, depending on the chlamydial serovar and the avian host. Generalised infections results in fever, anorexia, lethargy, diarrhea and occasionally in death. In the Republic of Croatia it is obligatory by the law to test the birds, mainly parrots and pigeons, for the presence of this microorganism. Also, all pet shops and breeding facilities have the obligation to be tested two times per year. In the Laboratory for chlamydiosis in Croatia, located at the Department of Poultry Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, the diagnostics of chlamydia is based on molecular methods with detection of specific fragment of DNA by TaqMan probes using Real-Time PCR. During the seven-year period (2008-2014) altogether 4413 samples were submitted for the testing of the presence of Chlamydia. The samples obtained were mainly pooled fecal samples, so called triple swabs (conjunctival+faringeal+cloacal) and conjunctival swabs. Altogether 351 samples were found positive (7.95%) of all examined samples. In the investigated period, the highest number of received samples belonged to different species of parrots and pigeons, mainly kept in breeding facilities or in pet stores. The largest number of positive samples originated from pigeons, then from parrots and Passeriformes birds. It is evident that the number of positive samples varied over the years, from 13 in 2014 up to 90 in 2013, which represents 3.21% to 13.67% of positive samples, respectively. Majority of Chlamydiaceae positive samples were found to be positive for C. psittaci, but also other species were identified. Due to the fact that the most frequently identified species was C. psittaci, genotyping was also conducted, to reveal the presence of different genotypes in examined bird species.

Chlamydia sp. ; avian samples ; realtime PCR

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