Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 54 No. 4, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.4.6
Serological evidence of Chlamydia psittaci in psittacines in three zoological parks in Portugal
João Morais
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Coelho
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Vanessa Soeiro
; Gaia Biological Park, EEM, Avintes, Portugal
Pedro Nunes
; Zoo of Lourosa, Lourosa, Portugal
Nuno Alvura
; Zoo of Maia, Maia, Portugal
Gerry M. Dorrestein
; Pathology Laboratorium (NOIVBD), Zoo Veldhoven, Wintelresedijk, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
Maria dos Anjos Pires
orcid.org/0000-0001-9473-5283
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci is an agent that causes ornithosis or psittacosis, which can infect homing and wild birds, mammalian animals and humans. Since this disease is an important zoonosis that is fatal and distributed worldwide, it is important to know its occurrence. This study aimed to survey the seropositivity of Chlamydia psittaci in three psittacine collections in three zoos in Portugal. In this study, 112 blood samples of the psittacine belonging to Order Psitaciformes (encompassing 31 species from 14 genera) were used. These samples were tested using a commercial ELISA kit (Immunocomb®, Biogal). The serological examination of psittacine samples using ELISA showed that 54 were positive (48.2%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 39.0-57.4%). The genus Ara exhibited significantly higher seropositivity than other genera (P<0.05). Based on the serological data from this study, we demonstrate that antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci are circulating in the blood of these tested animals. Since psittacosis is a public health concern, zoonotic issues of these results should be considered.
Keywords
seropositivity; Chlamydia psittaci; psittacines; Portugal
Hrčak ID:
281065
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2022.
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