Chlamydia psittaci in fulmars on the Faroe Islands: a causative link to South American psittacines eight decades after a severe epidemic

Wang, Helen; Jensen, Jens‐Kjeld; Olsson, Anna; Vorimore, Fabien; Aaziz, Rachid; Guy, Lionel; Ellström, Patrik; Laroucau, Karine; Herrmann, Björn

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2020.02.007

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The strain 99DC05 isolated from a horse in Germany [25] clustered in group V_Mat116 and Ful127, a strain recently isolated from a fulmar (Procellariidae) [26], clustered in group VIII_WC. The MLST sequences of these two strains are both close to the MLST ST24, corresponding to the reference strain 6BC (group I_psittacine), with only two mutations in the hflX gene for Ful127 and one mutation in the enoA gene for 99DC05.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New SNP-Based Genotyping Method for C. psittaci: Application to Field Samples for Quick Identification

et al. 2021

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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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New SNP-Based Genotyping Method for C. psittaci: Application to Field Samples for Quick Identification

et al. 2021

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“…( 2015 ) denoted that due to migrations over large distances and often sharing close habitat with humans, seabirds might act as active transmission vehicles of C. psittaci , posing significant zoonotic risks to other wildlife and humans globally. An excellent case example is demonstrated in a previous study describing northern fulmars ( F. glacialis ) infected with C. psittaci , causing disease within the bird population and severe disease outbreaks in humans that have captured these birds for consumption (Herrmann et al., 2006 ; Wang et al., 2020 ). Fulmars also belong to the same avian order as shearwaters (Procellariiformes).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging and well‐characterized chlamydial infections detected in a wide range of wild Australian birds

Kasimov

Dong

Shao

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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Birds can act as successful long‐distance vectors and reservoirs for numerous zoonotic bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens, which can be a concern given the interconnectedness of animal, human and environmental health. Examples of such avian pathogens are members of the genus Chlamydia. Presently, there is a lack of research investigating chlamydial infections in Australian wild and captive birds and the subsequent risks to humans and other animals. In our current study, we investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of chlamydial organisms infecting wild birds from Queensland and the rate of co‐infections with beak and feather disease virus (BFDV). We screened 1114 samples collected from 564 different birds from 16 orders admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital from May 2019 to February 2021 for Chlamydia and BFDV. Utilizing species‐specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, we revealed an overall Chlamydiaceae prevalence of 29.26% (165/564; 95% confidence interval (CI) 25.65–33.14), including 3.19% (18/564; 95% CI 2.03–4.99%) prevalence of the zoonotic Chlamydia psittaci. Chlamydiaceae co‐infection with BFDV was detected in 9.75% (55/564; 95% CI 7.57–12.48%) of the birds. Molecular characterization of the chlamydial 16S rRNA and ompA genes identified C. psittaci, in addition to novel and other genetically diverse Chlamydia species: avian Chlamydia abortus, Ca. Chlamydia ibidis and Chlamydia pneumoniae, all detected for the first time in Australia within a novel avian host range (crows, figbirds, herons, kookaburras, lapwings and shearwaters). This study shows that C. psittaci and other emerging Chlamydia species are prevalent in a wider range of avian hosts than previously anticipated, potentially increasing the risk of spill‐over to Australian wildlife, livestock and humans. Going forward, we need to further characterize C. psittaci and other emerging Chlamydia species to determine their exact genetic identity, potential reservoirs, and factors influencing infection spill‐over.

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“…Genotypes E and B are particularly common in feral pigeons ( Columbia livia domestica ) [ 30 , 31 ]. Genotype A has been isolated from a diverse range of wild hosts, including parrots (e.g., crimson rosellas ( Platycercus elegans ) and galahs ( Eolophus roseicapillus )) [ 32 , 33 ], passerines (including robins ( Erithacus rubecula ), dunnocks ( Prunella modularis ) and great tits ( Parus major )), raptors (including Eurasian sparrowhawks ( Accipiter nisus ) and common buzzards ( Buteo buteo )) [ 34 ], and fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis ) [ 30 , 35 ]. The more recently proposed genotype 1V appears to be associated with the Corvidae family [ 34 , 36 ].…”

Section: Chlamydial Diversity In Wild Birds—the Known and The Novelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…NGS has greatly advanced the opportunities in this field. NGS techniques have already been employed to investigate potential sources of psittacosis outbreaks from wild birds in Australia [ 28 , 148 ] and were recently used to retrospectively investigate the C. psittaci strains present in fulmars following a human psittacosis epidemic that occurred several decades ago [ 35 ]. When zoonotic transmission is expected, ideally there should be a coordinated effort between health professionals, wildlife ecologists and veterinarians in order to carry out sampling of humans and wild birds within the same region and within a short time frame, with subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of any chlamydial strains identified.…”

Section: Recommendations For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Chlamydial Infections in Wild Birds

2021

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The Chlamydia are a globally distributed genus of bacteria that can infect and cause disease in a range of hosts. Birds are the primary host for multiple chlamydial species. The most well-known of these is Chlamydia psittaci, a zoonotic bacterium that has been identified in a range of wild and domesticated birds. Wild birds are often proposed as a reservoir of Chlamydia psittaci and potentially other chlamydial species. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge of chlamydial infections in wild avian populations. We focus on C. psittaci but also consider other Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-related bacteria that have been identified in wild birds. We summarise the diversity, host range, and clinical signs of infection in wild birds and consider the potential implications of these infections for zoonotic transmission and avian conservation. Chlamydial bacteria have been found in more than 70 species of wild birds, with the greatest chlamydial diversity identified in Europe. The Corvidae and Accipitridae families are emerging as significant chlamydial hosts, in addition to established wild hosts such as the Columbidae. Clarifying the effects of these bacteria on avian host fitness and the zoonotic potential of emerging Chlamydiales will help us to understand the implications of these infections for avian and human health.

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Chlamydia psittaci in fulmars on the Faroe Islands: a causative link to South American psittacines eight decades after a severe epidemic

Cited by 9 publications

References 21 publications

A New SNP-Based Genotyping Method for C. psittaci: Application to Field Samples for Quick Identification

A New SNP-Based Genotyping Method for C. psittaci: Application to Field Samples for Quick Identification

Emerging and well‐characterized chlamydial infections detected in a wide range of wild Australian birds

A Review of Chlamydial Infections in Wild Birds

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