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Kasimov V, White RT, Foxwell J, Jenkins C, Gedye K, Pannekoek Y, Jelocnik M. Whole-genome sequencing of Chlamydia psittaci from Australasian avian hosts: A genomics approach to a pathogen that still ruffles feathers. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001072. [PMID: 37486739 PMCID: PMC10438822 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001072] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci is a globally distributed veterinary pathogen with zoonotic potential. Although C. psittaci infections have been reported in various hosts, isolation and culture of Chlamydia is challenging, hampering efforts to produce contemporary global C. psittaci genomes. This is particularly evident in the lack of avian C. psittaci genomes from Australia and New Zealand. In this study, we used culture-independent probe-based whole-genome sequencing to expand the global C. psittaci genome catalogue. Here, we provide new C. psittaci genomes from two pigeons, six psittacines, and novel hosts such as the Australian bustard (Ardeotis australis) and sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea) from Australia and New Zealand. We also evaluated C. psittaci genetic diversity using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and major outer membrane protein (ompA) genotyping on additional C. psittaci-positive samples from various captive avian hosts and field isolates from Australasia. We showed that the first C. psittaci genomes sequenced from New Zealand parrots and pigeons belong to the clonal sequence type (ST)24 and diverse 'pigeon-type' ST27 clade, respectively. Australian parrot-derived strains also clustered in the ST24 group, whereas the novel ST332 strain from the Australian bustard clustered in a genetically diverse clade of strains from a fulmar, parrot, and livestock. MLST and ompA genotyping revealed ST24/ompA genotype A in wild and captive parrots and a sooty shearwater, whilst 'pigeon-types' (ST27/35 and ompA genotypes B/E) were found in pigeons and other atypical hosts, such as captive parrots, a little blue penguin/Kororā (Eudyptula minor) and a zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis) from Australia and New Zealand. This study provides new insights into the global phylogenomic diversity of C. psittaci and further demonstrates the multi-host generalist capacity of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilli Kasimov
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Centre for Bioinnovation, Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4557, Australia
| | - Rhys T. White
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Centre for Bioinnovation, Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4557, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Foxwell
- Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries, 66 Ward Street, Upper Hutt 5018, New Zealand
| | - Cheryl Jenkins
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, New South Wales 2568, Australia
| | - Kristene Gedye
- Massey University, School of Veterinary Science, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam 1105, Netherlands
| | - Martina Jelocnik
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Centre for Bioinnovation, Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4557, Australia
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Tripinichgul S, Weerakhun S, Kanistanon K. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Avian Chlamydiosis Detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Psittacine Birds in Thailand. J Avian Med Surg 2023; 36:372-379. [PMID: 36935208 DOI: 10.1647/21-00071] [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] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
This study surveyed avian chlamydiosis, with the aim to estimate the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with Chlamydia psittaci infection in psittacine birds kept as domestic pets in Thailand. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 120 psittacine birds that were randomly selected from hospitals in the central (Bangkok) and northeastern regions (Khon Kaen) of Thailand between 2019 and 2021. The oropharyngeal swabs were subject to polymerase chain reaction testing to detect the C psittaci ompA gene. The prevalence of C psittaci was 2.5% (3/ 120, 95% confidence interval = 0.3-5.3). Of the 3 positive birds, 1 was a Forpus parrot (Forpus species)(CP43TH) and 1 was an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus)(CP49TH) from Bangkok; both were juvenile birds with clinical signs of disease. The third positive bird (CP12TH) was a subclinical adult sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) from Khon Kaen. Two sequences of samples that were previously identified in human psittacosis cases (accession numbers MK032053.1 and HM450409.1) were also examined. Since there was a low number of infected birds, potential associations between C psittaci infection and various environmental variables (eg, cage cleaning, synanthropic birds, quarantine of new birds, and overcrowding) were assessed by Fisher exact tests. This study provides estimates of the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with C psittaci infection in psittacine birds from central (Bangkok) and the northeastern regions (Khon Kaen) of Thailand. The detection of C psittaci in captive psittacine birds demonstrates that there is a possibility for bird-to-bird transmission as well as some zoonotic potential for the human caretakers of these birds. Furthermore, larger-scale studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sompoth Weerakhun
- Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Kwankate Kanistanon
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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Chen WT, Teng CA, Shih CH, Huang WH, Jiang YF, Chang HW, Jeng CR, Lai YH, Guo JC, Wang PJ, Cheng CH, Chang YC. Investigation of Lethal Concurrent Outbreak of Chlamydiosis and Pigeon Circovirus in a Zoo. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061654. [PMID: 34199449 PMCID: PMC8227979 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The present study aimed to investigate a lethal outbreak of chlamydiosis and pigeon circovirus (PiCV) infection in a zoo. A retrospective follow-up indicates that the lethal outbreak might be an independent episode. The high prevalence of PiCV positivity in the aviaries suggests that PiCV infection might play a key role in augmenting the lethality of chlamydiosis in birds. Persistently monitoring both pathogens and identifying potential PiCV carriers or transmitters might also help prevent lethal disease outbreaks. Abstract During the spring, an outbreak of sudden death involving 58 birds occurred in a zoo. Histopathological examinations revealed variable numbers of intracytoplasmic basophilic microorganisms in the macrophages, hepatocytes, and renal epithelium of most birds, along with occasional botryoid intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within histiocytes in the bursa of Fabricius. Based on the results of histopathological examinations, immunohistochemical staining, transmission electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reactions, genotype B Chlamydia psittaci infection concurrent with pigeon circovirus (PiCV) was diagnosed. A retrospective survey, including two years before the outbreak and the outbreak year, of C. psittaci and PiCV infections of dead birds in the aviaries, revealed that the outbreak was an independent episode. The findings of this study indicate that concurrent infection with C. psittaci and PiCV might lead to lethal outbreaks of chlamydiosis, particularly Streptopelia orientalis. In addition, persistently monitoring both pathogens and identifying potential PiCV carriers or transmitters might also help prevent lethal disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Tao Chen
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Chin-Ann Teng
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Cheng-Hsin Shih
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Yi-Fan Jiang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Hui-Wen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Chian-Ren Jeng
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
| | - Yen-Hsueh Lai
- Taipei Zoo, Taipei 116016, Taiwan; (Y.-H.L.); (J.-C.G.); (P.-J.W.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Jun-Cheng Guo
- Taipei Zoo, Taipei 116016, Taiwan; (Y.-H.L.); (J.-C.G.); (P.-J.W.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Pao-Jung Wang
- Taipei Zoo, Taipei 116016, Taiwan; (Y.-H.L.); (J.-C.G.); (P.-J.W.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Chiu-Hung Cheng
- Taipei Zoo, Taipei 116016, Taiwan; (Y.-H.L.); (J.-C.G.); (P.-J.W.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Yen-Chen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (W.-T.C.); (C.-A.T.); (C.-H.S.); (W.-H.H.); (Y.-F.J.); (H.-W.C.); (C.-R.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-33663868
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Abstract
The order Psittaciformes is one of the most prevalent groups in the illegal wildlife trade. Efforts to understand this threat have focused on describing the elements of the trade itself: actors, extraction rates, and routes. However, the development of policy-oriented interventions also requires an understanding of how research aims and actions are distributed across the trade chain, regions, and species. We used an action-based approach to review documents published on illegal Psittaciformes trade at a global scale to analyze patterns in research aims and actions. Research increased exponentially in recent decades, recording 165 species from 46 genera, with an over representation of American and Australasian genera. Most of the research provided basic knowledge for the intermediary side of the trade chain. Aims such as the identification of network actors, zoonosis control, and aiding physical detection had numerous but scarcely cited documents (low growth rate), while behavior change had the highest growth rate. The Americas had the highest diversity of research aims, contributing with basic knowledge, implementation, and monitoring across the whole trade chain. Better understanding of the supply side dynamics in local markets, actor typology, and actor interactions are needed. Protecting areas, livelihood incentives, and legal substitutes are actions under-explored in parrots, while behavior change is emerging.
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