Naslov
Epidemiological study of Chlamydophila psittaci in pigeons and pet birds in Croatia

Autori
Križek, Ivan ; Horvatek, Danijela ; Gottstein, Željko ; Steiner, Zvonimir ; Galović, Dalida ; Ervačinović, Željka ; Prukner-Radovčić, Estella

Izvornik
Acta veterinaria (Beograd) (0567-8315) 62 (2012), 2/3; 325-331

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Chlamydophila psittaci ; pet birds ; epidemiology ; ELISA ; PCR

Sažetak
A total of 411 samples from birds of different species originating from all counties of the Republic of Croatia have been tested for the presence of the Chlamydophila psittaci. The sampling was conducted in pet stores, at bird breeders' aviaries, in a specialized bird clinic and in zoos. The testing included 177 parrots, 169 pigeons, 58 canaries and 7 finches. For the detection of specific C. psittaci antigen a commercial ELISA kit was used- IDEIATM PCE Chlamydia (DAKO Cytomation Ltd., United Kingdom). The samples that were non-specifically positive or doubtful in the ELISA test (a total of 26 samples) were analyzed also by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Diagnostic ELISA method found a total of 17.03% birds positive for chlamydiosis, and after the additional testing by PCR a total of 12.65% positive ones were found. According to bird species, the most frequently positive ones were canaries and pigeons (15.52% and 13.02%), and according to the sampling location most of the positive birds were found in pet stores (16.52%), but a high percentage of positive samples were also found in breeders' aviaries (11.76%). The average positive result for chlamydiosis in 12.65% of birds is alarming and it confirms the importance of monitoring bird health and of prescribed legal regulations when it comes to chlamydial diseases, as well as the education of persons involved in breeding, keeping or selling of birds.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA