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Soon XQ, Gedye K, Benschop J, Gartrell B. Molecular detection of Chlamydia psittaci in birds: a systematic review. Avian Pathol 2025; 54:279-298. [PMID: 39697165 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2024.2443952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 12/10/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
Molecular methods are currently the most sensitive for detecting Chlamydia psittaci in birds. Most laboratories have developed their own molecular assays or adapted published protocols, often making slight modifications to fit their specific study purposes. The sensitivity and specificity of a molecular test depend on the target gene, primer sequences, types of molecular test, DNA extraction method, and sampling methods. We reviewed 120 articles published between 2000 and 2020 to compile information on the molecular detection of C. psittaci in birds. Of the ten genomic targets currently available to detect C. psittaci in birds, the ompA gene was the most widely used. In published surveillance studies, of the fourteen molecular test types, conventional PCR and quantitative PCR were applied the most. A testing strategy using a hierarchical approach that includes molecular tests of genus- and species-specific targets is recommended to detect other avian chlamydial species besides the well-recognized C. psittaci. Samples should be sourced from both the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts whenever possible for better accuracy. High-quality DNA can be obtained when the sample is preserved in optimal medium and temperature, and an optimized DNA extraction protocol is applied. Standardization and validation of molecular Chlamydia tests are needed to enhance the comparability and reliability of assays to detect C. psittaci and other chlamydiae species in birds.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSHierarchical molecular testing is recommended for the detection of avian C. psittaci.Key molecular tests for surveillance were conventional PCR and quantitative PCR.The most used genomic target to detect C. psittaci in birds was the ompA gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Qi Soon
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science - Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Wildbase, School of Veterinary Science - Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Kristene Gedye
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science - Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jackie Benschop
- Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science - Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Brett Gartrell
- Wildbase, School of Veterinary Science - Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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2
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Zhou Y, Yan Z, Zhou S, Li W, Yang H, Chen H, Deng Z, Zeng Q, Sun P, Wu Y. ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a-based, fast and specific diagnostic detection for Chlamydia pneumoniae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1477422. [PMID: 39554814 PMCID: PMC11564186 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1477422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is a specialized intracellular parasitic pathogen capable of causing pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, which pose significant public health challenges. Therefore, rapid, accurate, and sensitive diagnosis is crucial for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases caused by C. pneumoniae. In this study, we combined enzymatic recombination amplification (ERA) with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 12a system (CRISPR/Cas12a) to develop a dual detection platform termed the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system. This system integrates both the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a fluorescence system and the ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a lateral flow system. Detection results can be measured using a fluorescence detector or observed with the naked eye on lateral flow strips. The fluorescence system and the lateral flow system detect C. pneumoniae in 30 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively. This dual system exhibits no cross-reactivity with the other seven pathogens, demonstrating high specificity, and achieves a sensitivity of 100 copies/µL. Additionally, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system was employed to analyze 39 clinical samples, comprising 19 positive and 20 negative samples. The detection rate for positive samples was 100%, with no positive results in the negative samples, indicating a high level of concordance with qPCR results. In summary, the Cpn-ERA-CRISPR/Cas12a dual system represents a novel tool for diagnosing C. pneumoniae and holds promising application potential in grassroots community hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Zhou
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zijun Yan
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shi Zhou
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Hongyu Yang
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Hongliang Chen
- Department of Infection Control, The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, China
| | - Zhongliang Deng
- Department of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, College of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Qilin Zeng
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Peiyuan Sun
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yimou Wu
- The Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Lee OM, Lee HJ, Kang SI, Jeong JY, Kwon YK, Kang MS. A multiplex real-time PCR assay for differential identification of avian Chlamydia. Avian Pathol 2022; 51:164-170. [PMID: 35076325 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2022.2031882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Avian chlamydiosis is an acute or chronic disease of birds after infection by Chlamydia. Although Chlamydia psittaci is the primary agent of the disease, two additional species, Chlamydia avium and Chlamydia gallinacea, have also been recognized as potential disease agents. Therefore, the diagnosis of avian chlamydiosis requires differential identification of these avian Chlamydia species. The objective of the present study was to develop a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to rapidly differentiate between these three species of avian Chlamydia (C. psittaci, C. avium, and C. gallinacea) as well as the genus Chlamydia. Specific genetic regions of the three species were identified by comparative analysis of their genome sequences. Also, the genus-specific region was selected based on 23S rRNA sequences. PCR primers and probes specific to the genus and each species were designed and integrated in the multiplex real-time PCR assay. The assay was highly efficient (94.8-100.7%). It detected less than 10 copies of each target sequence of the genus and each species. Twenty-five Chlamydia control and field DNA samples were differentially identified while 20 other bacterial strains comprising 10 bacterial genera were negative in the assay. This assay allows rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of the genus and the three species of avian Chlamydia in a single protocol that is suitable for routine diagnostic purposes in avian diagnostic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- O-Mi Lee
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Lee
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
| | - Sung-Il Kang
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Jeong
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
| | - Yong-Kuk Kwon
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
| | - Min-Su Kang
- Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
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Vorimore F, Aaziz R, de Barbeyrac B, Peuchant O, Szymańska-Czerwińska M, Herrmann B, Schnee C, Laroucau K. A New SNP-Based Genotyping Method for C. psittaci: Application to Field Samples for Quick Identification. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030625. [PMID: 33803059 PMCID: PMC8002925 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) psittaci is the causative agent of avian chlamydiosis and human psittacosis. In this study, we extracted single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the whole genome sequences of 55 C. psittaci strains and identified eight major lineages, most of which are host-related. A combined PCR/high-resolution melting (HRM) assay was developed to screen for eight phylogenetically informative SNPs related to the identified C. psittaci lineages. The PCR-HRM method was validated on 11 available reference strains and with a set of 118 field isolates. Overall, PCR-HRM clustering was consistent with previous genotyping data obtained by ompA and/or MLST analysis. The method was then applied to 28 C. psittaci-positive samples from animal or human cases. As expected, PCR-HRM typing results from human samples identified genotypes linked to ducks and pigeons, a common source of human exposure, but also to the poorly described Mat116-like genotype. The new genotyping method does not require time-consuming sequencing and allows a quick identification of the source of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Vorimore
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, 94706 Paris, France; (F.V.); (R.A.)
| | - Rachid Aaziz
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, 94706 Paris, France; (F.V.); (R.A.)
| | - Bertille de Barbeyrac
- Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections in Humans, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (B.d.B.); (O.P.)
| | - Olivia Peuchant
- Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections in Humans, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (B.d.B.); (O.P.)
| | | | - Björn Herrmann
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christiane Schnee
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Karine Laroucau
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, 94706 Paris, France; (F.V.); (R.A.)
- Correspondence:
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Crispo M, Blakey J, Shivaprasad HL, Laroucau K, Vorimore F, Aaziz R, Bickford A, Pesavento J, Stoute ST. Chlamydiosis in a Gouldian Finch ( Erythrura gouldiae). Avian Dis 2020; 64:216-222. [PMID: 32550623 DOI: 10.1637/0005-2086-64.2.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Avian chlamydiosis is an infection caused by obligate intracellular and Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Chlamydiaceae and has been reported in more than 450 avian species distributed in 30 orders. In particular, a high prevalence of infection has been demonstrated in wild passerine populations, including both asymptomatic and clinically ill individuals, suggesting a role of these avian species as important carriers. In May 2018, avian chlamydiosis was diagnosed in a 1-year-old male Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) at the Turlock Branch of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. The bird belonged to an outdoor aviary with mixed avian species, including Gouldian finches, doves (Geopelia cuneata and Spilopelia chinensis), and psittacines (Aratinga, Psittacula, Pyrrhura, and Trichoglossus sp.). Severe respiratory distress and mortality were noted among the finches. Gross and histopathologic lesions were concentrated in the liver and spleen, with a mild involvement of the upper respiratory tract. Chlamydia spp. were detected in the spleen and kidney by real-time PCR and were further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from the liver and spleen and characterized as a CP3-like strain (genotype B). In addition, viral particles compatible with circovirus were identified in the liver by direct electron microscopy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of avian chlamydiosis with hepatic viral particles consistent with circovirus infection in a Gouldian finch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Crispo
- Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock, CA 95380
| | - Julia Blakey
- Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock, CA 95380
| | - H L Shivaprasad
- Tulare Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare, CA 93274
| | - Karine Laroucau
- University Paris-Est, Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Maisons-Alfort, 94706 France
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- University Paris-Est, Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Maisons-Alfort, 94706 France
| | - Rachid Aaziz
- University Paris-Est, Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Maisons-Alfort, 94706 France
| | - Arthur Bickford
- Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock, CA 95380
| | - Joseph Pesavento
- Davis Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Simone T Stoute
- Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock, CA 95380,
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dos Santos LM, Vieira MRMDS, Oliveira JFG, Trindade JQ, Brasiliense DM, Ferrari SF, Tsutsumi MY, Fuzii HT, Sousa Junior EC, Ishikawa EAY, Ishak R, de Sousa MS. High prevalence of sexual Chlamydia trachomatis infection in young women from Marajó Island, in the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207853. [PMID: 30496244 PMCID: PMC6264820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. Approximately 80% of infected women are asymptomatic, although this infection can lead to serious complications in the female reproductive tract. Few data on Chlamydia infection are available in rural Amazonian communities. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prevalence of sexual C. trachomatis infection in women from Marajó Archipelago communities in the Amazon region of Brazil and to identify associated factors and genotypes. METHODS We utilized amplification of the ompA gene by nested PCR. Positive samples were genotyped by sequencing. Study participants completed a questionnaire on social, epidemiological, and reproductive health variables. A Poisson regression was used to evaluate the degree of association of these variables with the infection. RESULTS The sexual infection by C. trachomatis was observed in 4% (16/393) of the subjects, and was more often found in women aged ≤25 (14.3%; 95% CI = 2.83-35.47; p <0.001), and in women with a household income of less than one Brazilian monthly minimum wage (5.2%; 95% CI = 1.33-11.37; p = 0.014). The ompA gene was sequenced in 13 samples, revealing F genotypes (38.4%, n = 5), D (23%, n = 3), E (15.3%, n = 2), Ia (7.6%, N = 1), J (7.6%, n = 1) and B (7.6%, n = 1). CONCLUSIONS We recorded a high prevalence of sexual infection by C. trachomatis in young and poor women from the interior of the Brazilian Amazon. This high prevalence and the frequencies of the main genotypes were similar to those found in major Brazilian urban centers. Our results reinforce the importance of the screening of this neglected infection, and the prevention of later sequelae in young women from rural and urban areas of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Miranda dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | - Maria Renata Mendonça dos Santos Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | | | - Josinaide Quaresma Trindade
- Laboratório de Citopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasi
| | | | | | - Mihoko Yamamoto Tsutsumi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
- Laboratório de Citopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasi
| | - Hellen Thais Fuzii
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | | | - Edna Aoba Yassui Ishikawa
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | - Ricardo Ishak
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | - Maísa Silva de Sousa
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil
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Marti H, Borel N, Dean D, Leonard CA. Evaluating the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Chlamydia - New Approaches for in Vitro Assays. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1414. [PMID: 30018602 PMCID: PMC6037721 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigs are the natural hosts of Chlamydia suis, the only Chlamydia species known to spontaneously acquire homotypic resistance conferred by a class C tetracycline resistance gene. Various susceptibility assays have existed for several years, but there is no widely accepted, standardized assay to determine chlamydial antibiotic susceptibility. In this study, we developed new approaches to determine the in vitro susceptibility of Chlamydia to different antibiotics in view of existing protocols. Specifically, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is based on a consensus of both inclusion number reduction and alteration of inclusion size and morphology upon antibiotic exposure. In addition to these, we employed a recovery assay, allowing observation of the chlamydial response to drug removal and subsequent recovery, as compared to both continued exposure and to the unexposed control. We propose a simple and fast screening method to detect tetracycline resistant C. suis strains within 2 to 3 days with minimal use of consumables. For proof of principle, we evaluated the susceptibility of three C. suis field strains and the reference strain S45/6 to tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and penicillin, antibiotics commonly used to prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases on fattening pig farms. We found that tetracycline sensitive strains can easily be distinguished from resistant strains using the evaluation parameters proposed in this study. Moreover, we report that S45/6 is sensitive to sulfamethoxazole while all evaluated C. suis field strains showed some degree of sulfamethoxazole resistance. Finally, we confirm that Penicillin G induces the chlamydial stress response in all evaluated C. suis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Marti
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, United States.,Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.,School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Cory A Leonard
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Vanrompay D, Nguyen TLA, Cutler SJ, Butaye P. Antimicrobial Resistance in Chlamydiales, Rickettsia, Coxiella, and Other Intracellular Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2018; 6:10.1128/microbiolspec.arba-0003-2017. [PMID: 29651977 PMCID: PMC11633567 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.arba-0003-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This article will provide current insights into antimicrobial susceptibilities and resistance of an important group of bacterial pathogens that are not phylogenetically related but share lifestyle similarities in that they are generally considered to be obligate intracellular microbes. As such, there are shared challenges regarding methods for their detection and subsequent clinical management. Similarly, from the laboratory perspective, susceptibility testing is rarely undertaken, though molecular approaches might provide new insights. One should also bear in mind that the highly specialized microbial lifestyle restricts the opportunity for lateral gene transfer and, consequently, acquisition of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thi Loan Anh Nguyen
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sally J Cutler
- School of Health, Sport, and Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Butaye
- Department of BioSciences, Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies and Department of Pathology, Bacteriology, and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Donati M, Laroucau K, Guerrini A, Balboni A, Salvatore D, Catelli E, Lupini C, Levi A, Di Francesco A. Chlamydiosis in Backyard Chickens (Gallus gallus) in Italy. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:222-225. [PMID: 29595407 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, Chlamydia psittaci was considered to be the only etiological agent of avian chlamydiosis, but two new avian species, Chlamydia gallinacea and Chlamydia avium, have recently been described in poultry and pigeons or psittacine birds, respectively. The aim of this study was to explore the occurrence of C. psittaci and C. gallinacea in backyard chickens in Italy. Cloacal swabs were taken from 160 asymptomatic chickens reared in 16 backyard farms. Samples were tested for C. psittaci and C. gallinacea by specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, with 24 (15%) of the 160 chickens resulting positive for C. gallinacea. To attempt chlamydial isolation, new samples were obtained from two farms harboring a high prevalence (60% and 70%, respectively) of C. gallinacea-positive chickens. In total, eight C. gallinacea and one C. psittaci isolates were successfully recovered from 13 chickens. C. gallinacea was confirmed to be the endemic chlamydial species in chickens, with a high ompA intraspecies diversity. The presence of viable C. psittaci and C. gallinacea demonstrated by isolation from chickens in backyard farms poses a potential public health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Donati
- 1 Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Karine Laroucau
- 2 Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, Animal Health Laboratory, University Paris-Est , Anses, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alessandro Guerrini
- 3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Balboni
- 3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Salvatore
- 3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Catelli
- 3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Lupini
- 3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Aurora Levi
- 1 Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
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Leonard CA, Schoborg RV, Borel N. Productive and Penicillin-Stressed Chlamydia pecorum Infection Induces Nuclear Factor Kappa B Activation and Interleukin-6 Secretion In Vitro. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:180. [PMID: 28553623 PMCID: PMC5425588 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) is an inflammatory transcription factor that plays an important role in the host immune response to infection. The potential for chlamydiae to activate NFκB has been an area of interest, however most work has focused on chlamydiae impacting human health. Given that inflammation characteristic of chlamydial infection may be associated with severe disease outcomes or contribute to poor overall fitness in farmed animals, we evaluated the ability of porcine chlamydiae to induce NFκB activation in vitro. C. pecorum infection induced both NFκB nuclear translocation and activation at 2 hours post infection (hpi), an effect strongly enhanced by suppression of host de novo protein synthesis. C. suis and C. trachomatis showed less capacity for NFκB activation compared to C. pecorum, suggesting a species-specific variation in NFκB activation. At 24 hpi, C. pecorum induced significant NFκB activation, an effect not abolished by penicillin (beta lactam)-induced chlamydial stress. C. pecorum-dependent secretion of interleukin 6 was also detected in the culture supernatant of infected cells at 24 hpi, and this effect, too, was unchanged by penicillin-induced chlamydial stress. Taken together, these results suggest that NFκB participates in the early inflammatory response to C. pecorum and that stressed chlamydiae can promote inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory A Leonard
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert V Schoborg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN, USA
| | - Nicole Borel
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
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11
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Marti H, Kim H, Joseph SJ, Dojiri S, Read TD, Dean D. Tet(C) Gene Transfer between Chlamydia suis Strains Occurs by Homologous Recombination after Co-infection: Implications for Spread of Tetracycline-Resistance among Chlamydiaceae. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:156. [PMID: 28223970 PMCID: PMC5293829 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia suis is a swine pathogen that has also recently been found to cause zoonotic infections of the human eye, pharynx, and gastrointestinal tract. Many strains contain a tetracycline class C gene [tet(C)] cassette that confers tetracycline resistance. The cassette was likely originally acquired by horizontal gene transfer from a Gram-negative donor after the introduction of tetracycline into animal feed in the 1950s. Various research groups have described the capacity for different Chlamydia species to exchange DNA by homologous recombination. Since over 90% of C. suis strains are tetracycline resistant, they represent a potential source for antibiotic-resistance spread within and between Chlamydiaceae species. Here, we examined the genetics of tet(C)-transfer among C. suis strains. Tetracycline-sensitive C. suis strain S45 was simultaneously or sequentially co-infected with tetracycline-resistant C. suis strains in McCoy cells. Potential recombinants were clonally purified by a harvest assay derived from the classic plaque assay. C. suis strain Rogers132, lacking transposases IS200 and IS605, was the most efficient donor, producing two unique recombinants detected in three of the 56 (5.4%) clones screened. Recombinants were found to have a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8-16 μg/mL for tetracycline. Resistance remained stable over 10 passages as long as recombinants were initially grown in tetracycline at twice the MIC of S45 (0.032 μg/mL). Genomic analysis revealed that tet(C) had integrated into the S45 genome by homologous recombination at two unique sites depending on the recombinant: a 55 kb exchange between nrqF and pckG, and a 175 kb exchange between kdsA and cysQ. Neither site was associated with inverted repeats or motifs associated with recombination hotspots. Our findings show that cassette transfer into S45 has low frequency, does not require IS200/IS605 transposases, is stable if initially grown in tetracycline, and results in multiple genomic configurations. We provide a model for stable cassette transfer to better understand the capability for cassette acquisition by Chlamydiaceae species that infect humans, a matter of public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Marti
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Hoyon Kim
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Sandeep J Joseph
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA
| | - Stacey Dojiri
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Timothy D Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, OaklandCA, USA; Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, USA; Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, BerkeleyCA, USA; Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, USA
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12
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Joseph SJ, Marti H, Didelot X, Read TD, Dean D. Tetracycline Selective Pressure and Homologous Recombination Shape the Evolution of Chlamydia suis: A Recently Identified Zoonotic Pathogen. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:2613-23. [PMID: 27576537 PMCID: PMC5010913 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Species closely related to the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) have recently been found to cause zoonotic infections, posing a public health threat especially in the case of tetracycline resistant Chlamydia suis (Cs) strains. These strains acquired a tet(C)-containing cassette via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Genomes of 11 Cs strains from various tissues were sequenced to reconstruct evolutionary pathway(s) for tet(C) HGT. Cs had the highest recombination rate of Chlamydia species studied to date. Admixture occurred among Cs strains and with Chlamydia muridarum but not with Ct Although in vitro tet(C) cassette exchange with Ct has been documented, in vivo evidence may require examining human samples from Ct and Cs co-infected sites. Molecular-clock dating indicated that ancestral clades of resistant Cs strains predated the 1947 discovery of tetracycline, which was subsequently used in animal feed. The cassette likely spread throughout Cs strains by homologous recombination after acquisition from an external source, and our analysis suggests Betaproteobacteria as the origin. Selective pressure from tetracycline may be responsible for recent bottlenecks in Cs populations. Since tetracycline is an important antibiotic for treating Ct, zoonotic infections at mutual sites of infection indicate the possibility for cassette transfer and major public health repercussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep J Joseph
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hanna Marti
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Xavier Didelot
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy D Read
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Oral Uptake of Chlamydia psittaci by Ducklings Results in Systemic Dissemination. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154860. [PMID: 27168325 PMCID: PMC4864072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric infections caused by Chlamydia (C.) psittaci are frequent in ducks, but mostly remain subclinical under field conditions. To emulate natural infection, we investigated the pathogenic potential of a C. psittaci field strain in orally inoculated 4-day-old ducklings. Three different challenge doses were tested and seven contact animals were also mock-inoculated with buffer in each group. Over the course of ten days, the birds were monitored for clinical symptoms and chlamydial dissemination before final examination of tissues using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. While the challenge strain disseminated systemically to all internal organs, mild signs of diarrhea were confined to ducklings inoculated with the highest dose (4.3 x 108 IFU/mL, Group 1). No other clinical symptoms or histopathological lesions were seen. The chlamydial load in internal organs as measured by PCR depended on the challenge dose and was unevenly distributed, i.e. high loads in spleen, liver, and distal small and large intestinal tract (ileum, cecum and rectum) vs. ten times lower values in lungs and proximal small intestinal tract (duodenum and jejunum). Notably, the C. psittaci infection of contact birds became evident on day 10 post-infection, with bacterial loads comparable to those of experimentally-infected animals, thus suggesting rapid bird-to-bird transmission of the challenge strain.
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Jelocnik M, Bachmann NL, Seth-Smith H, Thomson NR, Timms P, Polkinghorne AM. Molecular characterisation of the Chlamydia pecorum plasmid from porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala strains indicates plasmid-strain co-evolution. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1661. [PMID: 26870613 PMCID: PMC4748734 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Highly stable, evolutionarily conserved, small, non-integrative plasmids are commonly found in members of the Chlamydiaceae and, in some species, these plasmids have been strongly linked to virulence. To date, evidence for such a plasmid in Chlamydia pecorum has been ambiguous. In a recent comparative genomic study of porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala C. pecorum isolates, we identified plasmids (pCpec) in a pig and three koala strains, respectively. Screening of further porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala C. pecorum isolates for pCpec showed that pCpec is common, but not ubiquitous in C. pecorum from all of the infected hosts. Methods. We used a combination of (i) bioinformatic mining of previously sequenced C. pecorum genome data sets and (ii) pCpec PCR-amplicon sequencing to characterise a further 17 novel pCpecs in C. pecorum isolates obtained from livestock, including pigs, sheep, and cattle, as well as those from koala. Results and Discussion. This analysis revealed that pCpec is conserved with all eight coding domain sequences (CDSs) present in isolates from each of the hosts studied. Sequence alignments revealed that the 21 pCpecs show 99% nucleotide sequence identity, with 83 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) shown to differentiate all of the plasmids analysed in this study. SNPs were found to be mostly synonymous and were distributed evenly across all eight pCpec CDSs as well as in the intergenic regions. Although conserved, analyses of the 21 pCpec sequences resolved plasmids into 12 distinct genotypes, with five shared between pCpecs from different isolates, and the remaining seven genotypes being unique to a single pCpec. Phylogenetic analysis revealed congruency and co-evolution of pCpecs with their cognate chromosome, further supporting polyphyletic origin of the koala C. pecorum. This study provides further understanding of the complex epidemiology of this pathogen in livestock and koala hosts and paves the way for studies to evaluate the function of this putative C. pecorum virulence factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Jelocnik
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast , Sippy Downs, Queensland , Australia
| | - Nathan L Bachmann
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast , Sippy Downs, Queensland , Australia
| | - Helena Seth-Smith
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Nicholas R Thomson
- Infection Genomics, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute , Cambridge , United Kingdom
| | - Peter Timms
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast , Sippy Downs, Queensland , Australia
| | - Adam M Polkinghorne
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast , Sippy Downs, Queensland , Australia
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15
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Guo W, Li J, Kaltenboeck B, Gong J, Fan W, Wang C. Chlamydia gallinacea, not C. psittaci, is the endemic chlamydial species in chicken (Gallus gallus). Sci Rep 2016; 6:19638. [PMID: 26778053 PMCID: PMC4726042 DOI: 10.1038/srep19638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the prevalence and diversity of Chlamydia spp. in domestic birds in China, oral and cloacal swabs of healthy chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons were collected nationwide from live-animal markets and examined by Chlamydia spp. 23 S rRNA gene FRET-PCR followed by high-resolution melting curve analysis and confirmatory sequencing. Overall, 26.2% of the birds (602/2,300) were positive for Chlamydia spp. and five Chlamydia spp. were identified. While occasional detection of C. suis and C. muridarum in poultry is reported here for the first time, the predominant chlamydial agent was C. gallinacea representing 63.8% of all positives (384/602) and 81.2% of positive chickens (359/442). Analysis of the C. gallinacea ompA phylogeny revealed at least 13 well segregated variants (serovars). Seven-month monitoring of C. gallinacea-infected chickens indicated that the infection was persistent. C. gallinacea-infected chickens remained without overt clinical disease, but showed body weight gains significantly reduced by 6.5-11.4% beginning in week 3 post-infection. This study indicates that C. gallinacea is the endemic chlamydial species in chickens, whereas C. psittaci dominates only in pigeons. Further studies are required to address the specific conditions under which C. gallinacea could act as an avian pathogen and possibly also a zoonotic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Guo
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.,College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Anhui, China
| | - Jing Li
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Jiansen Gong
- Poultry Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Weixing Fan
- Laboratory of Zoonosis, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Chengming Wang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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16
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Ramsey KH, Sigar IM, Schripsema JH, Townsend KE, Barry RJ, Peters J, Platt KB. Detection of Chlamydia infection in Peromyscus species rodents from sylvatic and laboratory sources. Pathog Dis 2016; 74:ftv129. [PMID: 26733499 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine if Chlamydia muridarum, or other chlamydiae, are enzootic in rodents, we probed a serum bank of wild Peromyscus spp. mice for immunoglobulin G-antibody reactivity to ultraviolet light-inactivated C. muridarum elementary bodies (EBs) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Applying a cut-off for a positive reaction of OD(405) nm = 0.1 at a 1:20 dilution, we found titratable antibody reactivity in 190 of 247 specimens surveyed (77%, mean OD(405) = 0.33 ± 0.26, range = 0.11-1.81, median = 0.25). In addition, serum samples were obtained from a colony of specific pathogen-free Peromyscus spp. maintained at the University of South Carolina and six of 12 samples were reactive (50%, mean OD(405) = 0.19 +/- 0.08, range = 0.1-0.32, median = 0.18). Lastly, 40 additional wild Peromyscus spp. were captured in a disparate region of Midwestern USA and 22 serum specimens were reactive (55%, mean OD(405) = 0.22 +/- 0.11, range = 0.1-0.48, median = 0.2). Specificity of selected reactive sera for chlamydial antigen was confirmed on Western blot using resolved purified EBs as the detecting antigen. From tissues removed from several mice at necropsy, the gene for chlamydial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples of 16S rRNA were subjected to additional PCR for the major outer membrane protein gene (ompA). The amplicons of three select ompA positive samples were sequenced with ≥99% homology with C. muridarum. Our findings indicate that chlamydial infection is enzootic for Peromyscus spp., and that C. muridarum, or a closely related species or strain, is likely the agent in the tested rodent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle H Ramsey
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, 60515, USA
| | - Ira M Sigar
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, 60515, USA
| | - Justin H Schripsema
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, 60515, USA
| | - Kathryn E Townsend
- Anatomy Department, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, 85308, USA
| | - Randall J Barry
- Department of the Army, Joliet Training Area, Elwood, Illinois, 60421, USA
| | - Jan Peters
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory and the Microbiology and Immunology Department, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee, 38163, USA
| | - Kenneth B Platt
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
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Assessment of Chlamydia psittaci Shedding and Environmental Contamination as Potential Sources of Worker Exposure throughout the Mule Duck Breeding Process. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1504-1518. [PMID: 26712548 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03179-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci is an obligate intracellular bacterium responsible for avian chlamydiosis, otherwise known as psittacosis, a zoonotic disease that may lead to severe atypical pneumonia. This study was conducted on seven mule duck flocks harboring asymptomatic birds to explore the circulation and persistence of C. psittaci during the entire breeding process and assess the potential sources of worker exposure. Cloacal swabs and air samples were taken on each occasion requiring humans to handle the birds. In parallel, environmental samples, including dust, water, and soil, were collected. Specific real-time PCR analyses revealed the presence of C. psittaci in all flocks but with three different shedding patterns involving ducks about the age of 4, 8, and 12 weeks with heavy, moderate, and low excretion levels, respectively. Air samples were only positive in flocks harboring heavy shedders. Dust in flocks with heavy or moderate shedders carried chlamydial loads strongly associated with the loads detected in avian and soil samples. Environmental contamination, significantly correlated with shedding dynamics, was considered to be the most probable source of exposure. The high prevalence of bacteriophage Chp1 in all flocks, mostly jointly present with chlamydia, suggests an important factor in C. psittaci persistence, thus creating a greater risk for humans. A survey conducted in these flocks regarding farming practices and activities showed that disinfection seems to be the most promising practice for reducing C. psittaci prevalence in ducks and that the place and the duration of action during operations seem to be potential risk factors. Strict adherence to good practices is strongly recommended.
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18
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Shivaprasad HL, Carnaccini S, Bland M, Aaziz R, Moeller R, Laroucau K. An Unusual Outbreak of Chlamydiosis in Commercial Turkeys Involving the Nasal Glands. Avian Dis 2015; 59:315-22. [PMID: 26473684 DOI: 10.1637/11006-123014-reg] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
An unusual outbreak of chlamydiosis was diagnosed in 15,000, 13-wk-old organically grown turkeys housed in a semiconfinement housing system. The disease was characterized by unilateral or bilateral swelling above the eye due to mild-to-severe inflammation of the nasal glands in 3%-5% of the birds. Except for a slight drop in feed and water consumption, the birds did not exhibit any respiratory signs, morbidity, and mortality. Chlamydiosis in the turkeys was confirmed by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and PCR assay of the nasal glands. Other samples such as conjunctiva, lungs, air sacs, heart, liver, spleen, and feces were negative for chlamydia by florescence antibody test in birds submitted over several weeks. Chlamydia psittaci strain B was isolated in chicken egg embryos and typed by multilocus sequence variable number of tandem repeats analysis, multilocus sequence typing, and ompA gene sequencing as a CP3-like strain. This is the first report of a naturally occurring chlamydiosis affecting the nasal glands in turkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- H L Shivaprasad
- A California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, University of California-Davis, 18830 Road 112, Tulare, CA 93274
| | - S Carnaccini
- A California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, University of California-Davis, 18830 Road 112, Tulare, CA 93274
| | - M Bland
- B Cutler Veterinary Associates International, 3562 Jomar, Napa, CA 94558
| | - R Aaziz
- C Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - R Moeller
- A California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, University of California-Davis, 18830 Road 112, Tulare, CA 93274
| | - K Laroucau
- C Anses, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
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19
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Kabeya H, Sato S, Maruyama S. Prevalence and characterization ofChlamydiaDNA in zoo animals in Japan. Microbiol Immunol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Kabeya
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health; College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University; 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa Kanagawa 252-0880 Japan
| | - Shingo Sato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health; College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University; 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa Kanagawa 252-0880 Japan
| | - Soichi Maruyama
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health; College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University; 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa Kanagawa 252-0880 Japan
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20
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Defining species-specific immunodominant B cell epitopes for molecular serology of Chlamydia species. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:539-52. [PMID: 25761461 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00102-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Urgently needed species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of antibodies against Chlamydia spp. have been elusive due to high cross-reactivity of chlamydial antigens. To identify Chlamydia species-specific B cell epitopes for such assays, we ranked the potential epitopes of immunodominant chlamydial proteins that are polymorphic among all Chlamydia species. High-scoring peptides were synthesized with N-terminal biotin, followed by a serine-glycine-serine-glycine spacer, immobilized onto streptavidin-coated microtiter plates, and tested with mono-specific mouse hyperimmune sera against each Chlamydia species in chemiluminescent ELISAs. For each of nine Chlamydia species, three to nine dominant polymorphic B cell epitope regions were identified on OmpA, CT618, PmpD, IncA, CT529, CT442, IncG, Omp2, TarP, and IncE proteins. Peptides corresponding to 16- to 40-amino-acid species-specific sequences of these epitopes reacted highly and with absolute specificity with homologous, but not heterologous, Chlamydia monospecies-specific sera. Host-independent reactivity of such epitopes was confirmed by testing of six C. pecorum-specific peptides from five proteins with C. pecorum-reactive sera from cattle, the natural host of C. pecorum. The probability of cross-reactivity of peptide antigens from closely related chlamydial species or strains correlated with percent sequence identity and declined to zero at <50% sequence identity. Thus, phylograms of B cell epitope regions predict the specificity of peptide antigens for rational use in the genus-, species-, or serovar-specific molecular serology of Chlamydia spp. We anticipate that these peptide antigens will improve chlamydial serology by providing easily accessible assays to nonspecialist laboratories. Our approach also lends itself to the identification of relevant epitopes of other microbial pathogens.
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21
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Vorimore F, Thébault A, Poisson S, Cléva D, Robineau J, de Barbeyrac B, Durand B, Laroucau K. Chlamydia psittaci in ducks: a hidden health risk for poultry workers. Pathog Dis 2014; 73:1-9. [PMID: 25854003 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftu016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci is a zoonotic pathogen associated primarily with avian chlamydiosis also referred as psittacosis. Human psittacosis can lead to severe cases of respiratory disease. The mule duck is one of the main bird hybrids associated with human cases of psittacosis in France. In order to better understand the epidemiology of avian chlamydiosis, monitoring studies were performed in both breeder flocks and mule duck flocks. Surveys conducted in one professional duck bredding organization revealed little shedding in breeder flocks, whereas heavy but asymptomatic C. psittaci shedding was observed in most of the mule duck flocks, mostly when birds were reared in open range conditions on farms. Human cases of psittacosis linked to duck breeder flocks and their progeny led to detection of heavy shedders in all the suspected flocks despite no birds showing clinical signs. Offspring of one of the infected female flocks was analyzed and also proved to be infected by C. psittaci. Field studies suggest that C. psittaci infections in duck farms involve horizontal and probably vertical transmission but that the environment also plays an important role in maintaining infection on farms. In the light of the widespread occurrence of C. psittaci on duck farms, it has become urgent to clearly identify sources of contamination in order to take appropriate field management measures to minimize worker exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Vorimore
- University of Paris-Est, ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, F-94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Anne Thébault
- University of Paris-Est, ANSES, DERNS, F-94701 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sonia Poisson
- University of Paris-Est, ANSES, DERNS, F-94701 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | - Bertille de Barbeyrac
- University of Bordeaux, French National Reference Centre for Chlamydial Infections, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Benoit Durand
- University of Paris-Est, ANSES, Epidemiology Unit, F-94701 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Karine Laroucau
- University of Paris-Est, ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, F-94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
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22
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Bao X, Gylfe A, Sturdevant GL, Gong Z, Xu S, Caldwell HD, Elofsson M, Fan H. Benzylidene acylhydrazides inhibit chlamydial growth in a type III secretion- and iron chelation-independent manner. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:2989-3001. [PMID: 24914180 PMCID: PMC4135636 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01677-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiae are widespread Gram-negative pathogens of humans and animals. Salicylidene acylhydrazides, developed as inhibitors of type III secretion system (T3SS) in Yersinia spp., have an inhibitory effect on chlamydial infection. However, these inhibitors also have the capacity to chelate iron, and it is possible that their antichlamydial effects are caused by iron starvation. Therefore, we have explored the modification of salicylidene acylhydrazides with the goal to uncouple the antichlamydial effect from iron starvation. We discovered that benzylidene acylhydrazides, which cannot chelate iron, inhibit chlamydial growth. Biochemical and genetic analyses suggest that the derivative compounds inhibit chlamydiae through a T3SS-independent mechanism. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in a Chlamydia muridarum variant resistant to benzylidene acylhydrazides, but it may be necessary to segregate the mutations to differentiate their roles in the resistance phenotype. Benzylidene acylhydrazides are well tolerated by host cells and probiotic vaginal Lactobacillus species and are therefore of potential therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Bao
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA Department of Pharmacology, Nantong University School of Pharmacy, Nantong, People's Republic of China
| | - Asa Gylfe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gail L Sturdevant
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Zheng Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Shuang Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Harlan D Caldwell
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | | | - Huizhou Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Host adaptation of Chlamydia pecorum towards low virulence evident in co-evolution of the ompA, incA, and ORF663 Loci. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103615. [PMID: 25084532 PMCID: PMC4118914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) pecorum, an obligate intracellular bacterium, may cause severe diseases in ruminants, swine and koalas, although asymptomatic infections are the norm. Recently, we identified genetic polymorphisms in the ompA, incA and ORF663 genes that potentially differentiate between high-virulence C. pecorum isolates from diseased animals and low-virulence isolates from asymptomatic animals. Here, we expand these findings by including additional ruminant, swine, and koala strains. Coding tandem repeats (CTRs) at the incA locus encoded a variable number of repeats of APA or AGA amino acid motifs. Addition of any non-APA/AGA repeat motif, such as APEVPA, APAVPA, APE, or APAPE, associated with low virulence (P<10−4), as did a high number of amino acids in all incA CTRs (P = 0.0028). In ORF663, high numbers of 15-mer CTRs correlated with low virulence (P = 0.0001). Correction for ompA phylogram position in ORF663 and incA abolished the correlation between genetic changes and virulence, demonstrating co-evolution of ompA, incA, and ORF663 towards low virulence. Pairwise divergence of ompA, incA, and ORF663 among isolates from healthy animals was significantly higher than among strains isolated from diseased animals (P≤10−5), confirming the longer evolutionary path traversed by low-virulence strains. All three markers combined identified 43 unique strains and 4 pairs of identical strains among all 57 isolates tested, demonstrating the suitability of these markers for epidemiological investigations.
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Molecular and pathological insights into Chlamydia pecorum-associated sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis (SBE) in Western Australia. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:121. [PMID: 24884687 PMCID: PMC4064815 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite its global recognition as a ruminant pathogen, cases of Chlamydia pecorum infection in Australian livestock are poorly documented. In this report, a C. pecorum specific Multi Locus Sequence Analysis scheme was used to characterise the C. pecorum strains implicated in two cases of sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis confirmed by necropsy, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This report provides the first molecular evidence for the presence of mixed infections of C. pecorum strains in Australian cattle. Case presentation Affected animals were two markedly depressed, dehydrated and blind calves, 12 and 16 weeks old. The calves were euthanized and necropsied. In one calf, a severe fibrinous polyserositis was noted with excess joint fluid in all joints whereas in the other, no significant lesions were seen. No gross abnormalities were noted in the brain of either calf. Histopathological lesions seen in both calves included: multifocal, severe, subacute meningoencephalitis with vasculitis, fibrinocellular thrombosis and malacia; diffuse, mild, acute interstitial pneumonia; and diffuse, subacute epicarditis, severe in the calf with gross serositis. Immunohistochemical labelling of chlamydial antigen in brain, spleen and lung from the two affected calves and brain from two archived cases, localised the antigen to the cytoplasm of endothelium, mesothelium and macrophages. C. pecorum specific qPCR, showed dissemination of the pathogen to multiple organs. Phylogenetic comparisons with other C. pecorum bovine strains from Australia, Europe and the USA revealed the presence of two genetically distinct sequence types (ST). The predominant ST detected in the brain, heart, lung and liver of both calves was identical to the C. pecorum ST previously described in cases of SBE. A second ST detected in an ileal tissue sample from one of the calves, clustered with previously typed faecal bovine isolates. Conclusion This report provides the first data to suggest that identical C. pecorum STs may be associated with SBE in geographically separated countries and that these may be distinct from those found in the gastrointestinal tract. This report provides a platform for further investigations into SBE and for understanding the genetic relationships that exist between C. pecorum strains detected in association with other infectious diseases in livestock.
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Sait M, Livingstone M, Clark EM, Wheelhouse N, Spalding L, Markey B, Magnino S, Lainson FA, Myers GSA, Longbottom D. Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of three Chlamydia pecorum strains associated with different pathogenic outcomes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:23. [PMID: 24417976 PMCID: PMC3932018 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia pecorum is the causative agent of a number of acute diseases, but most often causes persistent, subclinical infection in ruminants, swine and birds. In this study, the genome sequences of three C. pecorum strains isolated from the faeces of a sheep with inapparent enteric infection (strain W73), from the synovial fluid of a sheep with polyarthritis (strain P787) and from a cervical swab taken from a cow with metritis (strain PV3056/3) were determined using Illumina/Solexa and Roche 454 genome sequencing. Results Gene order and synteny was almost identical between C. pecorum strains and C. psittaci. Differences between C. pecorum and other chlamydiae occurred at a number of loci, including the plasticity zone, which contained a MAC/perforin domain protein, two copies of a >3400 amino acid putative cytotoxin gene and four (PV3056/3) or five (P787 and W73) genes encoding phospholipase D. Chlamydia pecorum contains an almost intact tryptophan biosynthesis operon encoding trpABCDFR and has the ability to sequester kynurenine from its host, however it lacks the genes folA, folKP and folB required for folate metabolism found in other chlamydiae. A total of 15 polymorphic membrane proteins were identified, belonging to six pmp families. Strains possess an intact type III secretion system composed of 18 structural genes and accessory proteins, however a number of putative inc effector proteins widely distributed in chlamydiae are absent from C. pecorum. Two genes encoding the hypothetical protein ORF663 and IncA contain variable numbers of repeat sequences that could be associated with persistence of infection. Conclusions Genome sequencing of three C. pecorum strains, originating from animals with different disease manifestations, has identified differences in ORF663 and pseudogene content between strains and has identified genes and metabolic traits that may influence intracellular survival, pathogenicity and evasion of the host immune system. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-23) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David Longbottom
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK.
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Kollipara A, Polkinghorne A, Wan C, Kanyoka P, Hanger J, Loader J, Callaghan J, Bell A, Ellis W, Fitzgibbon S, Melzer A, Beagley K, Timms P. Genetic diversity of Chlamydia pecorum strains in wild koala locations across Australia and the implications for a recombinant C. pecorum major outer membrane protein based vaccine. Vet Microbiol 2013; 167:513-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideto Fukushi
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture; Gifu University; Gifu Gifu 501-11 Japan
| | - Katsuya Hirai
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture; Gifu University; Gifu Gifu 501-11 Japan
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Chahota R, Ogawa H, Mitsuhashi Y, Ohya K, Yamaguchi T, Fukushi H. Genetic Diversity and Epizootiology ofChlamydophila psittaciPrevalent among the Captive and Feral Avian Species Based on VD2 Region ofompAGene. Microbiol Immunol 2013; 50:663-78. [PMID: 16985288 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2006.tb03839.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
To study genetic diversity and occurrence of Chlamydophila psittaci, a total of 1,147 samples from 11 avian orders including 53 genera and 113 species of feral and captive birds were examined using ompA gene based nested PCR. Three types of chlamydiae: C. psittaci (94.12%), C. abortus (4.41%) and unknown Chlamydophila sp. (1.47%) were identified among 68 (5.93%) positive samples (Psittaciformes-59, Ciconiiformes-8 and Passeriformes-1). Based on nucleotide sequence variations in the VD2 region of ompA gene, all 64 detected C. psittaci strains were grouped into 4 genetic clusters. Clusters I, II, III and IV were detected from 57.35%, 19.12%, 10.29% and 7.35% samples respectively. A single strain of unknown Chlamydophila sp. was found phylogenetically intermediate between Chlamydophila species infecting avian and mammalian hosts. Among Psittaciformes, 28 out of 81 tested species including 10 species previously unreported were found to be chlamydiae positive. Chlamydiosis was detected among 8.97% sick and 48.39% dead birds as well 4.43% clinically normal birds. Therefore, it was observed that though various genetically diverse chlamydiae may cause avian chlamydiosis, only a few C. psittaci strains are highly prevalent and frequently associated with clinical/subclinical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Chahota
- Department of Applied Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu, Japan
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29
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Multilocus sequence analysis provides insights into molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia pecorum infections in Australian sheep, cattle, and koalas. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:2625-32. [PMID: 23740730 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00992-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum is a significant pathogen of domestic livestock and wildlife. We have developed a C. pecorum-specific multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) scheme to examine the genetic diversity of and relationships between Australian sheep, cattle, and koala isolates. An MLSA of seven concatenated housekeeping gene fragments was performed using 35 isolates, including 18 livestock isolates (11 Australian sheep, one Australian cow, and six U.S. livestock isolates) and 17 Australian koala isolates. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the koala isolates formed a distinct clade, with limited clustering with C. pecorum isolates from Australian sheep. We identified 11 MLSA sequence types (STs) among Australian C. pecorum isolates, 10 of them novel, with koala and sheep sharing at least one identical ST (designated ST2013Aa). ST23, previously identified in global C. pecorum livestock isolates, was observed here in a subset of Australian bovine and sheep isolates. Most notably, ST23 was found in association with multiple disease states and hosts, providing insights into the transmission of this pathogen between livestock hosts. The complexity of the epidemiology of this disease was further highlighted by the observation that at least two examples of sheep were infected with different C. pecorum STs in the eyes and gastrointestinal tract. We have demonstrated the feasibility of our MLSA scheme for understanding the host relationship that exists between Australian C. pecorum strains and provide the first molecular epidemiological data on infections in Australian livestock hosts.
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Poudel A, Elsasser TH, Rahman KS, Chowdhury EU, Kaltenboeck B. Asymptomatic endemic Chlamydia pecorum infections reduce growth rates in calves by up to 48 percent. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44961. [PMID: 23024776 PMCID: PMC3443228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular Chlamydia (C.) bacteria cause in cattle some acute but rare diseases such as abortion, sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis, kerato-conjunctivitis, pneumonia, enteritis and polyarthritis. More frequent, essentially ubiquitous worldwide, are low-level, asymptomatic chlamydial infections in cattle. We investigated the impact of these naturally acquired infections in a cohort of 51 female Holstein and Jersey calves from birth to 15 weeks of age. In biweekly sampling, we measured blood/plasma markers of health and infection and analyzed their association with clinical appearance and growth in dependence of chlamydial infection intensity as determined by mucosal chlamydial burden or contemporaneous anti-chlamydial plasma IgM. Chlamydia 23S rRNA gene PCR and ompA genotyping identified only C. pecorum (strains 1710S, Maeda, and novel strain Smith3v8) in conjunctival and vaginal swabs. All calves acquired the infection but remained clinically asymptomatic. High chlamydial infection associated with reduction of body weight gains by up to 48% and increased conjunctival reddening (P<10−4). Simultaneously decreased plasma albumin and increased globulin (P<10−4) suggested liver injury by inflammatory mediators as mechanisms for the growth inhibition. This was confirmed by the reduction of plasma insulin like growth factor-1 at high chlamydial infection intensity (P<10−4). High anti-C. pecorum IgM associated eight weeks later with 66% increased growth (P = 0.027), indicating a potential for immune protection from C. pecorum-mediated growth depression. The worldwide prevalence of chlamydiae in livestock and their high susceptibility to common feed-additive antibiotics suggests the possibility that suppression of chlamydial infections may be a major contributor to the growth promoting effect of feed-additive antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Poudel
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Theodore H. Elsasser
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kh. Shamsur Rahman
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Erfan U. Chowdhury
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Bernhard Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zocevic A, Vorimore F, Marhold C, Horvatek D, Wang D, Slavec B, Prentza Z, Stavianis G, Prukner-Radovcic E, Dovc A, Siarkou VI, Laroucau K. Molecular characterization of atypical Chlamydia and evidence of their dissemination in different European and Asian chicken flocks by specific real-time PCR. Environ Microbiol 2012; 14:2212-22. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02800.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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32
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Kollipara A, George C, Hanger J, Loader J, Polkinghorne A, Beagley K, Timms P. Vaccination of healthy and diseased koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) with a Chlamydia pecorum multi-subunit vaccine: Evaluation of immunity and pathology. Vaccine 2012; 30:1875-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Higgins DP, Beninati T, Meek M, Irish J, Griffith JE. Within-population diversity of koala Chlamydophila pecorum at ompA VD1-VD3 and the ORF663 hypothetical gene. Vet Microbiol 2011; 156:353-8. [PMID: 22118784 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Revised: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Infection of koalas by Chlamydophila pecorum is very common and causes significant morbidity, infertility and mortality. Fundamental to management of the disease is an understanding of the importance of multi-serotype infection or pathogen virulence in pathogenesis; these may need consideration in plans involving koala movement, vaccination, or disease risk assessment. Here we describe diversity of ompA VD1-3, and ORF663 hypothetical gene tandem repeat regions, in a single population of koalas with diverse disease outcomes. We PCR amplified and sequenced 72 partial ompA segments and amplified 25 tandem repeat segments (ORF663 hypothetical gene) from C. pecorum obtained from 62 koalas. Although several ompA genotypes were identified nationally, only one ompA genotype existed within the population studied, indicating that severe chlamydial disease occurs commonly in free-ranging koalas in the absence of infection by multiple MOMP serotypes of C. pecorum. In contrast, variation in tandem repeats within the ORF663 hypothetical gene was very high, approaching the entire range reported for pathogenic and non-pathogenic C. pecorum of European ruminants; providing an impetus for further investigation of this as a potential virulence trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P Higgins
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, B14, University of Sydney, Australia.
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34
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Gasparini J, Erin N, Bertin C, Jacquin L, Vorimore F, Frantz A, Lenouvel P, Laroucau K. Impact of urban environment and host phenotype on the epidemiology of Chlamydiaceae in feral pigeons (Columba livia). Environ Microbiol 2011; 13:3186-93. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02575.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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35
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Yang J, Ling Y, Yuan J, Pang W, He C. Isolation and characterization of peacock Chlamydophila psittaci infection in China. Avian Dis 2011; 55:76-81. [PMID: 21500640 DOI: 10.1637/9419-060710-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to isolate and identify suspected pathogens from peacocks and peacock farmers with severe pneumonia and to investigate its potential association with peacocks' pneumonia, caused by Chlamydophila psittaci infection. A clinical examination of infected peacocks identified birds with symptoms of anorexia, weight loss, yellowish droppings, airsacculitis, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis, whereas the infected farmers showed high fever and respiratory distress. Immunofluorescence tests detected chlamydial antigens in pharyngeal swabs (12 of 20) and lung tissue samples (four of five) from peacocks. One of four swabs taken from farmers was also positive by the same test. Specific anti-chlamydia immunoglobulin G was detected in 16 of 20 peacocks and four of four peacock farmers. The isolated pathogen was able to grow in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryos and McCoy cell lines and was identified as Chlamydiae by immunofluorescence assay and PCR. Avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus were eliminated as potential causative agents after pharyngeal swabs inoculated onto the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonate eggs failed to recover viable virus. PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism indicated the ompA gene from the isolate was similar to that of avian C. psittaci type B. Three-week-old SPF chickens challenged with the peacock isolate via intraperitoneal injection showed a typical pneumonia, airsacculitis, and splenitis. Subsequently, the inoculating strain was recovered from the lungs of challenged birds. This is the first report of C. psittaci infection in peacocks and peacock farmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjing Yang
- Key Lab of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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36
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Ortega N, Apaza D, Gonzalez F, Salinas J, Caro MR. Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae in non-symptomatic free-living raptors in Spain. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0538-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Marsh J, Kollipara A, Timms P, Polkinghorne A. Novel molecular markers of Chlamydia pecorum genetic diversity in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). BMC Microbiol 2011; 11:77. [PMID: 21496349 PMCID: PMC3101125 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia pecorum is an obligate intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of reproductive and ocular disease in several animal hosts including koalas, sheep, cattle and goats. C. pecorum strains detected in koalas are genetically diverse, raising interesting questions about the origin and transmission of this species within koala hosts. While the ompA gene remains the most widely-used target in C. pecorum typing studies, it is generally recognised that surface protein encoding genes are not suited for phylogenetic analysis and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the ompA gene locus is not congruent with the phylogeny of the C. pecorum genome. Using the recently sequenced C. pecorum genome sequence (E58), we analysed 10 genes, including ompA, to evaluate the use of ompA as a molecular marker in the study of koala C. pecorum genetic diversity. Results Three genes (incA, ORF663, tarP) were found to contain sufficient nucleotide diversity and discriminatory power for detailed analysis and were used, with ompA, to genotype 24 C. pecorum PCR-positive koala samples from four populations. The most robust representation of the phylogeny of these samples was achieved through concatenation of all four gene sequences, enabling the recreation of a "true" phylogenetic signal. OmpA and incA were of limited value as fine-detailed genetic markers as they were unable to confer accurate phylogenetic distinctions between samples. On the other hand, the tarP and ORF663 genes were identified as useful "neutral" and "contingency" markers respectively, to represent the broad evolutionary history and intra-species genetic diversity of koala C. pecorum. Furthermore, the concatenation of ompA, incA and ORF663 sequences highlighted the monophyletic nature of koala C. pecorum infections by demonstrating a single evolutionary trajectory for koala hosts that is distinct from that seen in non-koala hosts. Conclusions While the continued use of ompA as a fine-detailed molecular marker for epidemiological analysis appears justified, the tarP and ORF663 genes also appear to be valuable markers of phylogenetic or biogeographic divisions at the C. pecorum intra-species level. This research has significant implications for future typing studies to understand the phylogeny, genetic diversity, and epidemiology of C. pecorum infections in the koala and other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Marsh
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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38
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OKUDA H, OHYA K, SHIOTA Y, KATO H, FUKUSHI H. Detection of Chlamydophila psittaci by Using SYBR Green Real-Time PCR. J Vet Med Sci 2011; 73:249-54. [DOI: 10.1292/jvms.10-0222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hideko OKUDA
- Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Kenji OHYA
- Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Yukihiro SHIOTA
- Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Hiroshi KATO
- Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Hideto FUKUSHI
- Department of Applied Veterinary Sciences, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University
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Schautteet K, Beeckman DSA, Delava P, Vanrompay D. Possible pathogenic interplay between Chlamydia suis, Chlamydophila abortus and PCV-2 on a pig production farm. Vet Rec 2010; 166:329-33. [PMID: 20228367 DOI: 10.1136/vr.b4714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A concurrent outbreak of chlamydial disease in boars, sows and gilts and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in weaned piglets was investigated on a large pig production farm in Estonia. Chlamydia suis DNA was detected in conjunctival swabs from boars, sows and gilts, but also in the faeces of boars and sows. Chlamydophila abortus DNA was found in semen, and in conjunctival swabs from sows; DNA was demonstrated by microarrays. Serum samples from boars were examined using a Chlamydiaceae-specific recombinant ELISA. All 10 serum samples examined were positive (1:960 to 1:3840). Chlamydiosis was characterised by reproductive failure and conjunctivitis. Piglets were not examined for Chlamydiaceae, as eye problems were not observed. Piglets showed wasting, respiratory signs, diarrhoea, enlargement of lymph nodes and increased mortality (10 per cent). Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) was detected in the lymph nodes of piglets by immunohistochemistry, and PCV-2 antibodies were demonstrated in all 10 serum samples from sows examined using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Schautteet
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Mohamad KY, Rodolakis A. Recent advances in the understanding of Chlamydophila pecorum infections, sixteen years after it was named as the fourth species of the Chlamydiaceae family. Vet Res 2009; 41:27. [PMID: 19995513 PMCID: PMC2820232 DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2009] [Accepted: 12/08/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydophila pecorum found in the intestine and vaginal mucus of asymptomatic ruminants has also been associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koalas. Some endangered species such as water buffalos and bandicoots have also been found to be infected by C. pecorum. The persistence of C. pecorum strains in the intestine and vaginal mucus of ruminants could cause long-term sub-clinical infection affecting the animal’s health. C. pecorum strains present many genetic and antigenic variations, but coding tandem repeats have recently been found in some C. pecorum genes, allowing C. pecorum strains isolated from sick animals to be differentiated from those isolated from asymptomatic animals. This review provides an update on C. pecorum infections in different animal hosts and the implications for animal health. The taxonomy, typing and genetic aspects of C. pecorum are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Yousef Mohamad
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UR1282, Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, F-37380 Nouzilly (Tours), France
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Assessment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis OmpATb as a novel antigen for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2009; 16:1314-21. [PMID: 19587150 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00151-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In the search for better tools to control bovine tuberculosis, the development of diagnostic tests with improved specificity and sensitivity has a high priority. We chose to search for novel immunodiagnostic reagents. In this study, Rv0899 (outer membrane protein A of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [OmpATb]) was evaluated as a stimulation antigen in a gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) release assay to diagnose bovine tuberculosis. OmpATb induced IFN-gamma responses in cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis as early and as persistently as ESAT-6 and CFP-10, the current lead diagnostic antigens. In naturally infected cattle, OmpATb stimulated IFN-gamma production in 22 of 26 animals (85%). Importantly, OmpATb detected a portion of M. bovis-infected cattle which did not respond to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 (five of six cattle). The combined diagnostic sensitivity of OmpATb, ESAT-6, and CFP-10 for a preselected group consisting of naturally infected cattle with an overrepresentation of ESAT-6/CFP-10 nonresponders was 96% (25 of 26 animals). The specificity of OmpATb for uninfected cattle was 100% (27 cattle were tested; 12 of them gave false-positive results with tuberculins). In summary, our results indicate that OmpATb has the potential to enhance the sensitivity of previously described diagnostic tests based on ESAT-6 and CFP-10 and that the combined use of OmpATb, ESAT-6, CFP-10, and other proteins may achieve at least equal sensitivity to that obtained with purified protein derivative, but at a higher specificity. Further studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of OmpATb in combination with other proteins are ongoing.
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IIJIMA Y, AKIYOSHI K, TANAKA S, NUKINA M, ITO M, HARUTA T, INOUE A, ANDO S, KISHIMOTO T. Psittacosis Outbreak at an Avian Exhibition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 83:500-5. [DOI: 10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi.83.500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Genotyping of Chlamydophila psittaci by real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis. J Clin Microbiol 2008; 47:175-81. [PMID: 19005152 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01851-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human infection with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) psittaci can lead to psittacosis, a disease that occasionally results in severe pneumonia and other medical complications. C. psittaci is currently grouped into seven avian genotypes: A through F and E/B. Serological testing, outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene sequencing, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis are currently used for distinguishing these genotypes. Although accurate, these methods are time-consuming and require multiple confirmatory tests. By targeting the ompA gene, a real-time PCR assay has been developed to rapidly detect and genotype C. psittaci by light-upon-extension chemistry and high-resolution melt analysis. Using this assay, we screened 169 animal specimens; 98 were positive for C. psittaci (71.4% genotype A, 3.1% genotype B, 4.1% genotype E, and 21.4% unable to be typed). This test may provide insight into the distribution of each genotype among specific hosts and provide epidemiological and epizootiological data in human and mammalian/avian cases. This diagnostic assay may also have veterinary applications during chlamydial outbreaks, particularly with respect to identifying the sources and tracking the movements of a particular genotype when multiple animal facilities are affected.
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Abstract
Chlamydiae are important intracellular bacterial pathogens of vertebrates. In the last years, novel members of this group have been discovered: Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and Simkania negevensis seems to be emerging respiratory human pathogens, while Waddlia chondrophila might be a new agent of bovine abortion. Various species have been showed to infect also the herpetofauna and fishes, and some novel chlamydiae are endosymbionts of arthropods. In addition, molecular studies evidenced a huge diversity of chlamydiae from both environmental and clinical samples, most of such a diversity could be formed by novel lineages of chlamydiae. Experimental studies showed that free-living amoebae may support multiplication of various chlamydiae, then could play an important role as reservoir/vector of chlamydial infections. Here we reviewed literature data concerning chlamydial infections, with a particular emphasis on the novely described chlamydial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Corsaro
- Retrovirology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Abstract
There are two main approaches to diagnosing infections by Chlamydia and Chlamydophila spp. in mammals and birds. The first involves the direct detection of the agent in tissue or swab samples, while the second involves the serological screening of blood samples for the presence of anti-chlamydial antibodies. Ultimately, the test that is used is dependent on the types of samples that are submitted to the diagnostic laboratory for analysis. The present paper gives an overview on methodologies and technologies used currently in diagnosis of chlamydial infections with emphasis on recently developed tests. The performance characteristics of individual methods, such as the detection of antigen in smears and in pathological samples, the isolation of the pathogen, various antibody detection tests and DNA-based methods utilising conventional and real-time PCR, as well as DNA microarray technology are assessed, and specific advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Further, a combination of a specific real-time PCR assay and a microarray test for chlamydiae is proposed as an alternative reference standard to isolation by cell culture.
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Polkinghorne A, Borel N, Becker A, Lu ZH, Zimmermann DR, Brugnera E, Pospischil A, Vaughan L. Molecular evidence for chlamydial infections in the eyes of sheep. Vet Microbiol 2008; 135:142-6. [PMID: 18945556 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ocular infections by chlamydiae are associated with ocular disease manifestations such as conjunctivitis and keratitis in humans and animals. Limited evidence exists that members of the order Chlamydiales can also cause ocular disease in sheep. In the current study, the prevalence of chlamydiae in the eyes of sheep was investigated by using PCR methods. Data obtained in sheep by broad-range 16S rRNA order Chlamydiales-specific PCR were compared to the prevalence of antibodies against chlamydiae detected by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Flocks tested included a clinically healthy flock and two flocks suffering from ocular disease and with histories of Ovine Enzootic Abortion (OEA). PCR detected DNA of Chlamydophila (Cp.) abortus and Cp. pecorum in the eyes of both healthy and sick animals but also identified Chlamydia (C.) suis and a variety of uncultured chlamydia-like organisms. Good correlation was found between the presence of Cp. abortus DNA in sheep conjunctival samples and seropositivity detected by cELISA. Despite these findings, no association was found between the presence of chlamydial DNA in the sheep conjunctival samples and the onset of clinical disease. These results suggest that the biodiversity of chlamydiae in the eyes of sheep is greater than that previously thought. Further investigations are needed to determine whether a causal relationship between infection by chlamydiae and ocular disease exists in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Polkinghorne
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Kaltenboeck B, Heinen E, Schneider R, Wittenbrink MM, Schmeer N. OmpA and antigenic diversity of bovine Chlamydophila pecorum strains. Vet Microbiol 2008; 135:175-80. [PMID: 18930605 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Infections with the intracellular bacterium Chlamydophila (C.) pecorum are highly prevalent worldwide in cattle. These infections cause significant diseases such as polyarthritis, pneumonia, enteritis, genital infections and fertility disorders, and occasionally sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis. Subclinical respiratory infections of calves with C. pecorum have been associated with airway obstruction, pulmonary inflammation, and reduced weight gains. This investigation examined four chlamydial strains with biological properties of C. pecorum isolated from feces of clinically normal cattle, from calves with pneumonia, and from bulls with posthitis. The objective was to characterize the evolutionary relationships of these bovine chlamydial isolates to other chlamydiae by genetic analysis of the ompA gene, and by the immunological cross-reactivities in Western immunoblot analysis. PCR typing of the ompA gene identified these isolates as C. pecorum. The OmpA-deduced amino acid dissimilarities between these four strains spanned 10-20%. In phylogenetic analysis, the four isolates clustered with C. pecorum ruminant, porcine, and koala strains of different geographic origins rather than with each other. All four isolates showed different patterns of Western immunoblot reactivity with antiserum against bovine C. pecorum strain LW63, and, interestingly, no cross-reactivity of the OmpA proteins with the anti-LW613 OmpA antibodies. These data underscore the polyphyletic population structure of C. pecorum and suggest that the spectrum of C. pecorum OmpA proteins in a host species can occupy the entire evolutionary bandwidth within C. pecorum. The variant immunoblot reactivities support the notion of considerable genomic plasticity of C. pecorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
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Guscetti F, Schiller I, Sydler T, Heinen E, Pospischil A. Experimental enteric infection of gnotobiotic piglets with Chlamydia suis strain S45. Vet Microbiol 2008; 135:157-68. [PMID: 18950966 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Enteric chlamydial infections of pigs with Chlamydia (C.) suis are frequent and often subclinical. The enteric pathogenicity of C. suis strain S45 was investigated in gnotobiotic piglets. Piglets from three litters (n=31) were inoculated with egg-grown chlamydiae at 2-3 days of age (n=17) or used as controls (n=14). They were observed for clinical signs, killed and necropsied sequentially at 2-13 days postinoculation (DPI). Feces were collected daily and investigated with an ELISA for chlamydial antigen. At necropsy, specimens were collected for histopathology and for immunohistochemical, PCR-based, and serological (complement fixation test, ELISA) detection of chlamydiae. Chlamydial replication and associated symptoms and lesions were observed from 2 to 13 DPI and were particularly pronounced within the first week PI. Clinical symptoms consisted of moderate-to-severe diarrhea, slight and transient anorexia, weakness and body weight loss. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA revealed that chlamydial replication was particularly marked at 2-4 DPI and primarily located in the small intestinal villus enterocytes. Further sites of replication included large intestinal enterocytes, the lamina propria and Tunica submucosa, and the mesenteric lymphnodes. Histopathological changes included moderate-to-severe villus atrophy with flattened enterocytes and focal villus tip erosions, and moderate mucosal inflammatory cell infiltrates and lymphangitis in the small intestine. PCR of spleen tissue and blood was mostly negative for chlamydiae, indicating that they did not substantially disseminate into the host up to 13 DPI. All sera were negative for anti-chlamydial antibodies. In conclusion, C. suis strain S45 elicited significant enteric disease and lesions in gnotobiotic piglets indicating its pathogenic potential for swine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Guscetti
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Winterthurerstr. 268, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Yousef Mohamad K, Roche SM, Myers G, Bavoil PM, Laroucau K, Magnino S, Laurent S, Rasschaert D, Rodolakis A. Preliminary phylogenetic identification of virulent Chlamydophila pecorum strains. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2008; 8:764-71. [PMID: 18707024 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2008.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Revised: 06/18/2008] [Accepted: 06/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydophila pecorum is an obligate intracellular bacterium associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koala, which is also found in the intestine of asymptomatic animals. A multi-virulence locus sequence typing (MVLST) system was developed using 19 C. pecorum strains (8 pathogenic and 11 non-pathogenic intestinal strains) isolated from ruminants of different geographical origins. To evaluate the ability of MVLST to distinguish the pathogenic from the non-pathogenic strains of C. pecorum, the sequences of 12 genes were analysed: 6 potential virulence genes (ompA, incA, incB, incC, mip and copN), 5 housekeeping genes (recA, hemD, aroC, efp, gap), and the ORF663 gene encoding a hypothetical protein (HP) that includes a variant 15-nucleotides coding tandem repeat (CTR). MVLST provided high discriminatory power (100%) in allowing to distinguish 6 of 8 pathogenic strains in a single group, and overall more discriminatory than MLST targeting housekeeping genes. ompA was the most polymorphic gene and the phylogenetic tree based only on its sequence differentiated 4 groups with high bootstrap values. The number of CTRs (rich in serine, proline and lysine) in ORF663 detected in the pathogenic strains was generally lower than that found in the intestinal strains. MVLST appears to be a promising method for the differential identification of virulent C. pecorum strains, and the ompA, incA and ORF663 genes appear to be good molecular markers for further epidemiological investigation of C. pecorum.
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Sprague LD, Schubert E, Hotzel H, Scharf S, Sachse K. The detection of Chlamydophila psittaci genotype C infection in dogs. Vet J 2008; 181:274-9. [PMID: 18583165 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2007] [Revised: 03/28/2008] [Accepted: 04/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Reports of canine chlamydiosis are infrequent, possibly because the pathogen is rarely considered to be a cause of disease in dogs. This report presents details of Chlamydophila psittaci infection in four bitches with recurrent keratoconjunctivitis, severe respiratory distress and reduced litter size (up to 50% stillborn or non-viable puppies) in a small dog-breeding facility in Germany. Cell culture and immunofluorescence examination of conjunctival, nasal and pharyngeal swabs revealed chlamydial inclusions. PCR and sequencing of ompA amplification products confirmed the presence of Cp. psittaci genotype C. The zoonotic potential of the pathogen was illustrated by evidence of disease in two children that lived on the premises with the infected dogs. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest infection of dogs and humans may have followed the introduction of two canaries and a parrot to the household. The persistent nature of the chlamydial infection suggests that dogs may be reservoirs of Cp. psittaci, but this putative role and whether or not dogs shed the pathogen require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Sprague
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Naumburger Strasse 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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