Dissemination and genetic diversity of chlamydial agents in Polish wildfowl: Isolation and molecular characterisation of avian < i > Chlamydia abortus < /i > strains

by Monika Szyma ńska-Czerwińska, Agata Mitura, Krzysztof Niemczuk, Kinga Zaręba, Agnieszka Jodełko, Aneta Pluta, Sabine Scharf, Bailey Vitek, Rachid Aaziz, Fabien Vorimore, Karine Laroucau, Christiane Schnee Wild birds are considered as a reservoir for avian chlamydiosis posing a potential infectious threat to domestic poultry and humans. Analysis of 894 cloacal or fecal swabs from free-living birds in Poland revealed an overallChlamydiaceae prevalence of 14.8% (n = 132) with the highest prevalence noted in Anatidae (19.7%) and Corvidae (13.4%). Further testing conducted with species-specific real-time PCR showed that 65 samples (49.2%) were positive forC.psittaci whereas only one was positive forC.avium. To classify the non-identified chlamydial agents and to genotype theC.psittaci andC.avium-positive samples, specimens were subjected toompA-PCR and sequencing (n = 83). TheompA-based NJ dendrogram revealed that only 23 out of 83 sequences were assigned toC.psittaci, in particular to four clades representing the previously describedC.psittaci genotypes B, C, Mat116 and 1V. Whereas the 59 remaining sequences were assigned to two new clades named G1 and G2, each one including sequences recently obtained from chlamydiae detected in Swedish wetland birds. G1 (18 samples from Anatidae and Rallidae) grouped closely together with genotype 1V and in relative proximity to severalC.abortus isolates, and G2 (41 samples from Anatidae and Corvidae) grouped closely toC.psittaci strain...
Source: PLoS One - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research