Bacteria of the family Chlamydiaceae are globally disseminated and able to infect many bird species. So far, 11 species of Chlamydia have been detected in wild birds, and several studies found chlamydial strains classified as genetically intermediate between Chlamydia (C.) psittaci and C.abortus. Recently, a group of these intermediate strains was shown to form a separate species, i.e., C.buteonis. In the present study, 1128 samples from 341 raptors of 16 bird species and 253 corvids representing six species were examined using a stepwise diagnostic approach. Chlamydiaceae DNA was detected in 23.7% of the corvids and 5.9% of the raptors. In corvids, the most frequently detected Chlamydia species was C.psittaci of outer membrane protein A (ompA) genotype 1V, which is known to have a host preference for corvids. The most frequently detected ompA genotype in raptors was M56. Furthermore, one of the raptors harbored C.psittaci 1V, and two others carried genotype A. C.buteonis was not detected in the bird population investigated, so it remains unknown whether this species occurs in Switzerland. The infection rate of Chlamydiaceae in corvids was high compared to rates reported in other wild bird species, but neither Chlamydiaceae-positive corvids nor raptors showed overt signs of disease. Since the Chlamydiaceae of both, raptors and crows were identified as C.psittaci and all C.psittaci genotypes are considered to be zoonotic, it can be suggested that raptors and crows pose a potential hazard to the health of their handlers.

BackgroundAnnually, 800–1500 wild birds are admitted to the rehabilitation centre of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Lucerne, Switzerland. The workers of the centre come in close contact with the avian patients and might therefore be exposed to zoonotic agents shed by these birds, such as Chlamydia psittaci.MethodsIn the present study, 91 choanal, 91 cloacal and 267 faecal swabs from 339 wild birds of 42 species were investigated using a stepwise diagnostic approach.ResultsChlamydiaceae were detected in 0.9 per cent (0.3–2.6 per cent) of birds (n=3), all of them members of the Columbidae family. The Chlamydiaceae species of two of these birds (one Eurasian collared dove, one fancy pigeon) were identified as C psittaci types B and E by PCR and outer membrane protein A genotyping.ConclusionThe findings of the current study suggest that zoonotic transmission of Chlamydiaceae is very unlikely for songbird and waterfowl species tested herein, while pigeons might pose a risk to workers at rehabilitation centres.

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A male common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) was found dead in a field in April 2019 in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, and was submitted to the Department for the Protection of Animals and the Environment of the cantonal police Zurich. Because the common kestrel is a protected species, the carcass was forwarded to the Department for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, University of Zurich, for forensic examination. On necropsy, profuse internal haemorrhage without causal trauma was observed, leading to the suspicion of intoxication with an anticoagulant. Liver tissue samples were sent to the

In der Milchviehhaltung sind antibiotische Tierarzneimittel, welche ihre Wirkung auf Mensch, Tier und Umwelt ausüben, ein öffentlich kontrovers diskutiertes Thema. In dieser Studie soll aufgezeigt werden, wie Betriebe bestehen, die keine antibiotischen Euterpräparate einsetzen. Dabei soll es nicht zu einer Vernachlässigung des Tierwohls und der angestrebt tiefen Tankmilchzellzahlen kommen. Die Betriebsdaten wurden während der Fütterungszeit und einem Melkvorgang auf 18 Schweizer Betrieben, welche seit mindestens 3 Jahren im Euterbereich keine Antibiotika einsetzten, erhoben und in dieser Studie ausgewertet. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Querschnittsstudie, welche Prävalenzen präsentiert. Die Landwirte setzten auf Zuchtmerkmale wie eine hohe Lebensleistung, eine tiefe Milchzellzahl über mehrere Laktationen hinweg, einen friedlichen Tiercharakter und auf kleinrahmige Kühe mit tiefem Flankenbau. Es wurde ein Trend Richtung Zweinutzungsrassen beobachtet. Die Bauern achteten darauf, dass nur wenige verschiedene Personen regelmässig melkten. Aufgrund der Aufzucht eigener Jungrinder auf 94% der Betriebe, wurde der Tierverkehr reduziert. Weiter hatten klare Betriebsstrukturen und Arbeitsabläufe, sowie eine gute Tierbeobachtung einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf den Erfolg dieser Produktionsweise. Unterstützend kamen auf diesen Betrieben eigene Therapieformen, wie Homöopathie, Phytotherapie und altbewährte Hausmittel zum Einsatz.

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